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How to Return a Logo Image with XLOOKUP in Excel
Question details
The user needs to retrieve and display an image, such as a product logo, based on a specific lookup value (like a SKU) using the XLOOKUP function.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- desktop
- Scenario
- Creating a product inventory or lookup table where entering a SKU automatically retrieves the corresponding visual logo from a reference list.
- Observed behavior
- Standard images float above the grid, making it impossible for formula references to fetch them. Images must be embedded within the cells for functions like XLOOKUP to output the visual content.
Ensure you are using a recent desktop version of Microsoft 365 Excel, as the ability to place pictures directly into cells is required for lookup formulas to return visual data.
Embed Images in Cells and Use XLOOKUP
Insert your logos directly into worksheet cells so that Excel treats them as cell values, allowing XLOOKUP to return the image.
This method relies on Excel's 'Place in Cell' feature, which embeds a picture directly into a cell's data layer rather than floating it over the worksheet. Once the image is inside the cell, standard lookup functions can retrieve and display it just like standard text or numbers.
Create a table with at least two columns: one for your SKUs (lookup values) and one for your logos (return values).
Select a cell in the logo column. Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click 'Pictures', and choose 'Place in Cell' (or 'Insert Picture in Cell'). Select the correct logo from your device.
Continue using the 'Place in Cell' feature for every SKU in your reference list so all images are properly embedded within the cells.
Click the target cell where you want the logo to appear. Enter the formula: =XLOOKUP(Target_SKU, SKU_List_Range, Logo_List_Range) and press Enter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my XLOOKUP formula returning a 0 instead of the logo?
This usually happens because the image was inserted over the cells rather than inside them. You must use the 'Place in Cell' feature so the image becomes the actual cell value. Floating images cannot be fetched by lookup formulas.
Does this XLOOKUP image method work in Excel for the web?
Currently, this specific technique is optimized for supported desktop versions of Excel. Excel for the web may have limitations in rendering or utilizing images embedded in cells with lookup formulas.
Can I use VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH instead of XLOOKUP?
Yes. As long as the pictures are properly inserted into the cells using 'Place in Cell', other reference functions like VLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH will also successfully return the image data.
What if I don't have the 'Place in Cell' option in my Excel version?
If you are on an older version of Excel, you cannot use standard lookup functions to fetch images directly. You will need to use a workaround involving the 'Linked Picture' tool and the Named Manager with an INDEX/MATCH formula, or consider upgrading your office suite.
