How to optimize vlookup for high search count ? (alternatives to VLOOKUP)

Question

I am looking for alternatives to vlookup, with improved performance within the context of interest.

The context is the following:

• I have a data set of

Answer 1

You also may want to consider using the “double Vlookup” method (not my idea - seen elsewhere). I tested it on 100,000 lookup values on sheet 2 (randomly sorted) with an identical data set as the one you’ve described on sheet 1, and timed it at just under 4 seconds. The code is also a bit simpler.

Sub FastestVlookup()

    With Sheet2.Range("B1:B100000")
        .FormulaR1C1 = _
        "=IF(VLOOKUP(RC1,Sheet1!R1C1:R100000C1,1)=RC1,VLOOKUP(RC1,Sheet1!R1C1:R100000C2,2),""N/A"")"
        .Value = .Value
    End With

End Sub