Unlock the Secret Power of Excel: 5 Hidden Functions You Should Be Using Daily
If you think Excel is just about simple formulas and charts, think again! Beneath its familiar rows and columns lies a world of powerful, time-saving features that many users overlook. Whether you’re managing data, tracking projects, or crunching numbers, mastering a few “hidden” Excel functions can completely transform the way you work.
In this post, we’ll explore five underrated Excel functions that can help you automate tasks, clean data faster, and make your spreadsheets smarter. From dynamic filtering to smarter lookups, these tools will boost your productivity and make you look like an Excel pro—without hours of manual effort.
Let’s dive into the top 5 hidden Excel functions every user should know and start using daily!
🧮 1. TEXTJOIN() — Combine Text Easily
Purpose: Joins text from multiple cells with a specified delimiter (like commas or spaces).
Formula Example:
=TEXTJOIN(“, “, TRUE, A2:A6)
Why it’s useful:
- Replaces messy concatenation with & or CONCATENATE.
- Automatically ignores blank cells.
Use case: Combine first and last names, or merge multiple address fields into one cell.
🔍 2. FILTER() — Dynamic Filtering Without Manual Steps
Purpose: Filters a range based on conditions, dynamically.
Formula Example:
=FILTER(A2:D100, C2:C100=”Completed”)
Why it’s useful:
- No need to use AutoFilter manually.
- Updates automatically when source data changes.
Use case: Show only rows where “Status = Completed” or “Sales > 500”.
📅 3. WORKDAY.INTL() — Smart Date Calculations
Purpose: Calculates a date a given number of workdays away, with control over weekends and holidays.
Formula Example:
=WORKDAY.INTL(A2, 10, “0000011”, Holidays)
Why it’s useful:
- Automatically skips weekends or custom non-working days.
- Perfect for project scheduling and due dates.
Use case: Calculate due dates excluding weekends and holidays.
📊 4. XLOOKUP() — The Modern VLOOKUP Replacement
Purpose: Searches for a value and returns the corresponding result from another range.
Formula Example:
=XLOOKUP(“Apple”, A2:A10, B2:B10, “Not Found”)
Why it’s useful:
- Works left-to-right and right-to-left.
- No need to count column numbers like in VLOOKUP.
- Handles missing values gracefully.
Use case: Find prices, employee IDs, or category names quickly.
🔢 5. LET() — Cleaner & Faster Formulas
Purpose: Assigns names to calculation results inside a formula.
Formula Example:
=LET(x, A1*B1, x+10)
Why it’s useful:
- Simplifies long formulas.
- Improves calculation performance.
Use case: When you repeat the same calculation multiple times in one formula.
✅ Bonus Tip: Combine these — for example, use FILTER() inside TEXTJOIN() to generate a clean, comma-separated list of all completed tasks.
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