by The tutorial explains how to use the nested IF function in Excel to check multiple conditions. You will also learn a few other functions that could be good alternatives to using a nested formula in Excel.
How do you usually implement a decision-making logic in your Excel worksheets? In most cases, you'd use an IF formula to test your condition and return one value if the condition is met, another value if the condition is not met. To evaluate more than one condition and return different values depending on the results, you nest multiple IFs inside each other.
Though very popular, the nested IF statement is not the only way to check multiple conditions in Excel. In this tutorial, you will find a handful of alternatives that are definitely worth exploring.
Excel nested IF statement
Here's the classic Excel nested IF formula in a generic form:
You can see that each subsequent IF function is embedded into the value_if_false argument of the previous function. Each IF function is enclosed in its own set of parentheses, but all the closing parentheses are at the end of the formula.
Our generic nested IF formula evaluates 3 conditions, and returns 4 different results (result 4 is returned if none of the conditions is TRUE). Translated into a human language, this nested IF statement tells Excel to do the following:
test condition2, if TRUE - return result2, if FALSE -
test condition3, if TRUE - return result3, if FALSE -
return result4
As an example, let's find out commissions for a number of sellers based on the amount of sales they've made:
| Commission | Sales |
| 3% | $1 - $50 |
| 5% | $51 - $100 |
| 7% | $101 - $150 |
| 10% | Over $150 |
In math, changing the order of addends does not change the sum. In Excel, changing the order of IF functions changes the result. Why? Because a nested IF formula returns a value corresponding to the first TRUE condition. Therefore, in your nested IF statements, it's very important to arrange the conditions in the right direction - high to low or low to high, depending on your formula's logic. In our case, we check the "highest" condition first, then the "second highest", and so on:
=IF(B2>150, 10%, IF(B2>=101, 7%, IF(B2>=51, 5%, IF(B2>=1, 3%, ""))))
If we placed the conditions in the reverse order, from the bottom up, the results would be all wrong because our formula would stop after the first logical test (B2>=1) for any value greater than 1. Let's say, we have $100 in sales - it is greater than 1, so the formula would not check other conditions and return 3% as the result.
If you'd rather arrange the conditions from low to high, then use the "less than" operator and evaluate the "lowest" condition first, then the "second lowest", and so on:
=IF($B2<1, 0%, IF($B2<51, 3%, IF($B2<101, 5%, IF($B2<=150, 7%, 10%))))
As you see, it takes quite a lot of thought to build the logic of a nested IF statement correctly all the way to the end. And although Microsoft Excel allows nesting up to 64 IF functions in one formula, it is not something you'd really want to do in your worksheets. So, if you (or someone else) are gazing at your Excel nested IF formula trying to figure out what it actually does, it's time to reconsider your strategy and probably choose another tool in your arsenal.
For more information, please see Excel nested IF statement.
Nested IF with OR/AND conditions
In case you need to evaluate a few sets of different conditions, you can express those conditions using OR as well as AND function, nest the functions inside IF statements, and then nest the IF statements into each other.
Nested IF in Excel with OR statements
By using the OR function you can check two or more different conditions in the logical test of each IF function and return TRUE if any (at least one) of the OR arguments evaluates to TRUE. To see how it actually works, please consider the following example.
Supposing, you have two columns of sales, say January sales in column B and February sales in column C. You wish to check the numbers in both columns and calculate the commission based on a higher number. In other words, you build a formula with the following logic: if either Jan or Feb sales are greater than $150, the seller gets 10% commission, if Jan or Feb sales are greater than or equal to $101, the seller gets 7% commission, and so on.
To have it done, write a few OF statements like OR(B2>150, C2>150) and nest them into the logical tests of the IF functions discussed above. As the result, you get this formula:
=IF(OR(B2>150, C2>150), 10%, IF(OR(B2>=101, C2>=101),7%, IF(OR(B2>=51, C2>=51), 5%, IF(OR(B2>=1, C2>=1), 3%, ""))))
And have the commission assigned based on the higher sales amount:
For more formula examples, please see Excel IF OR statement.
Nested IF in Excel with AND statements
If your logical tests include multiple conditions, and all of those conditions should evaluate to TRUE, express them by using the AND function.
For example, to assign the commissions based on a lower number of sales, take the above formula and replace OR with AND statements. To put it differently, you tell Excel to return 10% only if Jan and Feb sales are greater than $150, 7% if Jan and Feb sales are greater than or equal to $101, and so on.
=IF(AND(B2>150, C2>150), 10%, IF(AND(B2>=101, C2>=101), 7%, IF(AND(B2>=51, C2>=51), 5%, IF(AND(B2>=1, C2>=1), 3%, ""))))
As the result, our nested IF formula calculates the commission based on the lower number in columns B and C. If either column is empty, there is no commission at all because none of the AND conditions is met:
If you'd like to return 0% instead of blank cells, replace an empty string (''") in the last argument with 0%:
=IF(AND(B2>150, C2>150), 10%, IF(AND(B2>=101, C2>=101), 7%, IF(AND(B2>=51, C2>=51), 5%, IF(AND(B2>=1, C2>=1), 3%, 0%))))
More information can be found here: Excel IF with multiple AND/OR conditions.
VLOOKUP instead of nested IF in Excel
When you are dealing with "scales", i.e. continuous ranges of numerical values that together cover the entire range, in most cases you can use the VLOOKUP function instead of nested IFs.
For starters, make a reference table like shown in the screenshot below. And then, build a Vlookup formula with approximate match, i.e. with the range_lookup argument set to TRUE.
Assuming the lookup value is in B2 and the reference table is F2:G5, the formula goes as follows:
=VLOOKUP(B2,$F$2:$G$5,2,TRUE)
Please notice that we fix the table_array with absolute references ($F$2:$G$5) for the formula to copy correctly to other cells:
By setting the last argument of your Vlookup formula to TRUE, you tell Excel to search for the closest match - if an exact match is not found, return the next largest value that is smaller than the lookup value. As the result, your formula will match not only the exact values in the lookup table, but also any values that fall in between.
For example, the lookup value in B3 is $95. This number does not exist in the lookup table, and Vlookup with exact match would return an #N/A error in this case. But Vlookup with approximate match continues searching until it finds the nearest value that is less than the lookup value (which is $50 in our example) and returns a value from the second column in the same row (which is 5%).
But what if the lookup value is less than the smallest number in the lookup table or the lookup cell is empty? In this case, a Vlookup formula will return the #N/A error. If it's not what you actually want, nest VLOOKUP inside IFERROR and supply the value to output when the lookup value is not found. For example:
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(B2, $F$2:$G$5, 2, TRUE), "Outside range")
Important note! For a Vlookup formula with approximate match to work correctly, the first column in the lookup table must be sorted in ascending order, from smallest to largest.
For more information, please see Exact match VLOOKUP vs. approximate match VLOOKUP.
IFS statement as alternative to nested IF function
In Excel 2016 and later versions, Microsoft introduced a special function to evaluate multiple conditions - the IFS function.
An IFS formula can handle up to 127 logical_test/value_if_true pairs, and the first logical test that evaluates to TRUE "wins":
In accordance with the above syntax, our nested IF formula can be reconstructed in this way:
=IFS(B2>150, 10%, B2>=101, 7%, B2>=51, 5%, B2>0, 3%)
Please pay attention that the IFS function returns the #N/A error if none of the specified conditions is met. To avoid this, you can add one more logical_test/value_if_true to the end of your formula that will return 0 or empty string ("") or whatever value you want if none of the previous logical tests is TRUE:
=IFS(B2>150, 10%, B2>=101, 7%, B2>=51, 5%, B2>0, 3%, TRUE, "")
As the result, our formula will return an empty string (blank cell) instead of the #N/A error if a corresponding cell in column B is empty or contains text or negative number.
Note. Like nested IF, Excel's IFS function returns a value corresponding to the first condition that evaluates to TRUE, which is why the order of logical tests in an IFS formula matters.
For more information, please see Excel IFS function instead of nested IF.
CHOOSE instead of nested IF formula in Excel
Another way to test multiple conditions within a single formula in Excel is using the CHOOSE function, which is designed to return a value from the list based on a position of that value.
Applied to our sample dataset, the formula takes the following shape:
=CHOOSE((B2>=1) + (B2>=51) + (B2>=101) + (B2>150), 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%)
In the first argument (index_num), you evaluate all the conditions and add up the results. Given that TRUE equates to 1 and FALSE to 0, this way you calculate the position of the value to return.
For example, the value in B2 is $150. For this value, the first 3 conditions are TRUE and the last one (B2 > 150) is FALSE. So, index_num equals to 3, meaning the 3rd value is returned, which is 7%.
Tip. If none of the logical tests is TRUE, index_num is equal to 0, and the formula returns the #VALUE! error. An easy fix is wrapping CHOOSE in the IFERROR function like this:
=IFERROR(CHOOSE((B2>=1) + (B2>=51) + (B2>=101) + (B2>150), 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%), "")
For more information, please see Excel CHOOSE function with formula examples.
SWITCH function as a concise form of nested IF in Excel
In situations when you are dealing with a fixed set of predefined values, not scales, the SWITCH function can be a compact alternative to complex nested IF statements:
The SWITCH function evaluates expression against a list of values and returns the result corresponding to the first found match.
In case, you'd like to calculate the commission based on the following grades, rather than sales amounts, you could use this compact version of nested IF formula in Excel:
=SWITCH(C2, "A", 10%, "B", 7%, "C", 5%, "D", 3%, "")
Or, you can make a reference table like shown in the screenshot below and use cell references instead of hardcoded values:
=SWITCH(C2, $F$2, $G$2, $F$3, $G$3, $F$4, $G$4, $F$5, $G$5, "")
Please notice that we lock all references except the first one with the $ sign to prevent them from changing when copying the formula to other cells:
Note. The SWITCH function is only available in Excel 2016 and higher.
For more information, please see SWITCH function - the compact form of nested IF statement.
Concatenating multiple IF functions in Excel
As mentioned in the previous example, the SWITCH function was introduced only in Excel 2016. To handle similar tasks in older Excel versions, you can combine two or more IF statements by using the Concatenate operator (&) or the CONCATENATE function.
For example:
=(IF(C2="a", 10%, "") & IF(C2="b", 7%, "") & IF(C2="c", 5%, "") & IF(C2="d", 3%, ""))*1
Or
=CONCATENATE(IF(C2="a", 10%, ""), IF(C2="b", 7%, ""), IF(C2="c", 5%, "") & IF(C2="d", 3%, ""))*1
As you may have noticed, we multiply the result by 1 in both formulas. It is done to convert a string returned by the Concatenate formula to a number. If your expected output is text, then the multiplication operation is not needed.
For more information, please see CONCATENATE function in Excel.
You can see that Microsoft Excel provides a handful of good alternatives to nested IF formulas, and hopefully this tutorial has given you some clues on how to leverage them in your worksheets. To have a closer look at the examples discussed in this tutorial, you are welcome to download our sample workbook below. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!
Practice workbook for download
Excel nested If statement - examples (.xlsx file)
230 comments
Hi
I have to update the three different states professional tax values (PT) in column B based on the Column A (Salary) & Column C (states). state wise & Salary wise PT slab given below. I tried with if condition. It is throwing me an error. Can you help
Col A Col B Col C
Salary PT State TN PT Slab
1800 KL 12501 208.00
5500 KL
6000 KL KA PT Slab
6500 TN 0-15000 0
7500 TN >150001 200
7600 KL
8600 TN KL PT Slab
9000 TN 20834 208
25000 KA
I have a table with values, no text. The data look something like this
0.00 0.51 1.01 0.00 1.43
0.82 2.48 5.40 1.96 7.75
0.39 0.00 0.00 0.93 0.00
I need to present these values in four categories:
0 [presenting as 0]
>0 and <0.05 [presenting as =0.05 and =1 [presenting as the actual value]
I have not found a way for IFS to test against a range of values within a single unit of the function, as the old AND function used to enable in IF statements. Is this possible?
A chunk of the four categories got erased. Here are the categories, again:
0 [presenting as 0]
>0 and <0.05 [presenting as 0.04999 and 0.99999 [presenting as the actual value]
Thank you for better understand the if forula
I can’t figure out how to write this...the cell that I’m evaluating is a %
The formula I’ve tried: IF(B17≥65,"THRIVING",IF(B17≥50,"Ahead Of The Curve",IF(B17>35,"TURBULANT","Making Ends Meet")))
Criteria: 66+% = Thriving,
51-65% = Ahead Of The Curve,
36-50% = Making Ends Meet,
0-35% = Turbulent
One cell I’m evaluating has a value of 45%, another of 88%...the formula says both are Making Ends Meet
Can you help me?
HI Donna,
I thing this will you.
IF(A11>=66%,"THRIVING","")&IF(A11<=65%,"Ahead Of The Curve","")&IF(A11<=50%,"Making Ends Meet","")&IF(A11<=35%,"TURBULENT","")
169 #N/A
169 #N/A
169 #N/A
169 Punjab National Bank
169 #N/A
169 #N/A
i want to have punjab national bank in all the other places where it is #N/A. please share logic to write in other column
I need a formula for excel -
If (Salary<=13000) Then 9617 Else 12022 Elseif(Salary<=24000) Then 15100 ElseiF(salary<=30000) Then (Basic*0.45)
Help me
Sub Value()
Dim Salary As Integer
Dim Basic As Double
Basic = Cells(?, "?")
Salary = Cells(?, "?")
If Salary < 13001 Then
Cells(?, "?") = 9617
ElseIf Salary < 24001 Then
Cells(?, "?") = 15100
ElseIf Salary < 30001 Then
Cells(?, "?") = Basic * 0.45
Else
Cells(?, "?") = 12022
End If
End Sub
I am trying to find a max value from a list which belongs to another range of data. For example, when I have a data: A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5. If the list contains A, C, D, the output should be 4 (the maximum value).
I made a formula that works (F column: A,B,C,D,E; G column: 1,2,3,4,5; J column: list)as below: =MAX(IF(F22:F29=J21,G22:G29),IF(F22:F29=J22,G22:G29),IF(F22:F29=J23,G22:G29),IF(F22:F29=J24,G22:G29))
But I wonder, if there is any way to make the formula simpler.
Please help. My Formula mentioned below is working correctly.
=IF(I4>=9000, 2%, IF(I4>7500,1.75%, IF(I4>6000, "1.5%", IF(I4>4000, "1%", IF(I4=9000, 2%, IF(I4>7500,1.75%, IF(I4>6000, "1.5%", IF(I4>4000, "1%", IF(I4<4000, "0")))))), "0")
Thank you - this was extraordinarily helpful! The IF & IF & IF was exactly what I needed to make my column work properly. I used it in Google Sheets and it worked like a charm!
Afternoon, looking for some help with trending some date with date ranges. Have a data set with a lot of fluid data from multiple people and downloads. I need to 'Snap shot' the data in specific cells to track progress quickly for a trending report week on week. Complete a large search on the net but it I can not find anything the help with my problem. My current formula looks back at last weeks results which is misleading the data. Currently I have to manually over write the formula result each week manually so the data is retained and not re calculated, or over written. Any help appreciated..
hi, i have 3 different if formulas that works when entered separately. However, when i tried to combine them, the result shows "FALSE".
=IF(E3="PREVIEW 1",IF(N3>=11,30,IF(AND(N3>=10,N3=9,N3=12,30,IF(AND(N3>=11,N3=10,N3=14,30,IF(AND(N3>=13,N3<14),24,IF(N3=13,18,""))))))))))))
Please help me get the formulae for the below Ms excel problem. I need the card rate to appear automatically on the 4th column when the amount of Fixed Deposit (in millions), period of fixing (in days) & interest offered (%) is given. The card rates are given below.
FD(Mns) Days Int Offered(%) Card Rate (%)
2.65 31 7.50
11.34 91 7.50
64.21 181 8.00
178.58 365 8.75
CARD RATE
Days 10Mn50 Million
30 to 90 6.00 6.50 7.00
90 to 180 6.50 7.00 7.25
181 to 364 7.00 7.25 7.75
365 to 730 7.25 7.75 8.25
'=IF(AND(F9>0,F9=11,F9<=15),30,IF(F9<15,25,0)))
=IF(AND(F9>0,F9=11,F9<=15),30,IF(F9<15,25,0)))
@Nishith Rana try:
=IF(AND(F9>0,F9=11,F9<=15),30,IF(F9<15,25,0)))
=IF(0<F9<=10,45,IF(11<=F9<=15,30,IF(15<F9,25,0)))
THIS WONT WORK. HOW TO CORRECT THIS??
I run a badminton booking spreadsheet with 7 named players (as column headings in row 2) and I want to identify the first 4 people who have said "YES" (in row 3), working from the left. I have nested IFs, but I want to stop trying after I have achieved the 4th YES (because you can only get 4 player on a badminton court!).
This:
=CONCATENATE("This week it's ",
IF(C3="YES","me, ",""),
IF(D3="YES",$D$2,""),IF(D3="YES",", ",""),
IF(G3="YES",$G$2,""),IF(G3="YES",", ",""),
IF(I3="YES",$I$2,""),IF(I3="YES",", ",""),
IF(J3="YES",$J$2,""),IF(J3="YES",", ",""),
IF(K3="YES",$K$2,""),IF(K3="YES",", ",""),
IF(L3="YES",$L$2,""))
gives
"This week it's me, Roger, Sanath, Agnelo, Greg, Alec"
which is 6 names because José in column D had said "NO".
I would like the result to read
"This week it's me, Roger, Sanath, Agnelo".
I think the more gramatically correct
"This week it's me, Roger, Sanath and Agnelo"
might be too much of a challenge!
Any ideas please?
Hi Guy,
What if all the players reply in the affirmative? Will it be possIble to pick only four of them for a game without upsetting the others? If random selection sounds good to you, I can suggest applying a formula that will bring the names of those who want to take part (Step 1) and turning the values received into a 'Custom list' to delegate Ablebits' 'Random Generator' to take an unbiased decision (Step 2). If you like the idea, this is the formula which is needed in Step 1:
=IF($3:$3="YES", CHOOSE(1, $2:$2), "")
FYI =IF(G39="","",IF(J39=G39,"Contact individual",IF(M39="","",IF(M39<=J39,"Returned","Contact individual")))))
Hello please could you wizards advise on the following:
=IF(G40="","",IF(J40=G40,"Contact individual",IF(M40="","",IF(J40>=M40,"Returned","Contact individual")))))
I require a nest IF (if think)
I have three dates and three different document status outcomes depending on the sequence below.
If the issue date is is filled in only, then the status shall be "in circulation".
if there is now a document withdrawal date in the next cell that the is greater or equal to the issue date, the value shall be "Contact individual".
If the return date value is missing from the required cell then the status shall remain as "Contact individual", but if a date is entered into the withdrawal date cell the status then the status is to return "Returned"
Please Help Friends
I need to do an IF statement to get a range for:
Volumes Greater than and equal to 2,000,000
Volumes Less than 2,000,000 but greater than and equal to 200,000
Volumes less than 200,000 but greater than and equal to 500
Volumes less than and equal to 500
I just want to say thank you. I was able to create an if-choose on my excel thanks