How to Use CHOOSE Function in Excel + Tips (Video in Khmer)

Hello everyone! Today i will show you how to use CHOOSE function in Microsoft Excel step by step.

What is CHOOSE Function in Excel?

The CHOOSE function is a Lookup formula in Excel that help you pick one value from a list of values based on an index position number (1, 2, 3...).

For example: If your index number is 1, CHOOSE returns the 1st value. If index number is 2, it returns the 2nd value in your list!

📚 Related Tutorial: Want to convert dates and day numbers easily? Check out How to Use WEEKDAY Function in Excel!

🛠️ Formula Syntax & Parameters

The CHOOSE formula syntax look like this:

=CHOOSE(index_num, value1, [value2], [value3], ...)

• index_num: Required. The position number you want to pick (must be number between 1 and 254, or a cell reference like A2).
• value1: Required. The 1st value to choose from.
• [value2], [value3]...: Optional. Additional values (up to 254 items). Can be text in quotes ("Apple"), numbers (100), cell references (B2), or even cell ranges and formulas!

📋 Sample Data & Simple Examples

Example 1: Pick Text Item by Position Number

Suppose Cell A2 = 2 (index position):

=CHOOSE(A2, "Apple", "Banana", "Orange", "Mango")

👉 Result: Banana
(Because "Banana" is the 2nd item in your list!)

Example 2: Convert Month Number to Quarter Name

Suppose Cell A2 = 5 (Month 5 = May):

=CHOOSE(A2, "Q1", "Q1", "Q1", "Q2", "Q2", "Q2", "Q3", "Q3", "Q3", "Q4", "Q4", "Q4")

👉 Result: Q2
(Because the 5th item in list is "Q2")!

Example 3: Convert Day Number to Day Name (Combine with WEEKDAY)

Suppose Cell A2 contains a date. You can combine CHOOSE with WEEKDAY formula:

=CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(A2), "Sun", "Mon", "Tue", "Wed", "Thu", "Fri", "Sat")

👉 Result: Returns custom short day name based on the date in A2!

🎥 CHOOSE Function Video Tutorial (Khmer)

Follow this video guide to watch step-by-step tutorial:

💡 Quick Tips for Using CHOOSE Function

1. Index Number Must Be 1 or Greater: index_num cannot be 0 or negative number (like -1). If index_num is 0 or bigger than total values list, Excel returns #VALUE! error.
2. Decimal Numbers Auto-Truncate: If index_num is a decimal number like 2.8, Excel cuts off decimal and uses integer 2.
3. Use Cell References: Instead of typing hardcoded text inside formula like "Apple", you can reference cells like =CHOOSE(A2, B1, B2, B3, B4).
4. Combine with WEEKDAY or MONTH: CHOOSE is super useful when combined with WEEKDAY() or MONTH() to convert numbers to custom names (like "Mon", "Tue" or "Q1", "Q2").
5. Reverse Lookup Trick: Advanced users combine CHOOSE({1,2}, ColumnB, ColumnA) inside VLOOKUP to do left lookup! (Or simply use XLOOKUP / INDEX MATCH).

📚 Related Resources & Tutorials

• How to Use WEEKDAY Function in Excel
• How to Use DAY, MONTH, and YEAR in Excel
• How to Use IFS Function in Excel
• How to Use INDEX and MATCH in Excel
• Top 15 Basic Excel Formulas for Beginners ↗