CHOOSE function
CHOOSE returns the item at a given position from a list you type into the formula: 1 returns the first item, 2 the second, and so on. It turns small numbers into labels, such as a month into a quarter name, and picks between rates or whole ranges based on a level or scenario number.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Logical functions
- Returns
- The value at position index_num, or #VALUE! when index_num is below 1 or past the end of the list.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same way in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], ...)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
index_num | Required | A number from 1 to the number of values, up to 254. Decimals are dropped. |
value1 | Required | The value to return when index_num is 1. |
value2 | Optional | The value for 2, and so on. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =CHOOSE(ROUNDUP(MONTH(A2)/3,0),"Q1","Q2","Q3","Q4") | Q1 | A quarter label from a date in February |
| D3 | =CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(A3),"Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat") | Fri | A day name from the weekday number: July 3, 2026 is a Friday |
| D4 | =CHOOSE(2,B2,B3,B4) | $9,100 | Picks the second cell in the list |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Date | Sales | Result | |
| 2/14/2026 | $8,200 | Q1 | |
| 7/3/2026 | $9,100 | Fri | |
| 11/20/2026 | $7,600 | $9,100 |
Practice CHOOSE
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Bonus by level
D2, calculate each bonus: level 1 earns 2% of salary, level 2 earns 4% and level 3 earns 6%. Use CHOOSE, then fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #VALUE! | index_num is 0, negative or larger than the number of values. Check the number feeding CHOOSE. |
| Picking by name | CHOOSE needs a position number. To pick by a word such as "High", use SWITCH or XLOOKUP. |
| Long lists typed into the formula | Past six or seven items, a lookup table with INDEX or XLOOKUP is easier to maintain. |
Tips
- =SUM(CHOOSE($H$1,B2:B13,C2:C13,D2:D13)) switches a total between three scenarios with one input cell.
Questions
What does CHOOSE do in Excel?
It returns the nth item from a list in the formula: =CHOOSE(2,"Low","Medium","High") returns "Medium".
What is the difference between CHOOSE and SWITCH?
CHOOSE picks by position number. SWITCH matches a value, which can be text, against a list of options.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.