by In this article, you will learn how to build an Excel IF statement for different types of values as well as how to create multiple IF statements.
IF is one of the most popular and useful functions in Excel. Generally, you use an IF statement to test a condition and to return one value if the condition is met, and another value if the condition is not met.
In this tutorial, we are going to learn the syntax and common usages of the Excel IF function, and then take a closer look at formula examples that will hopefully prove helpful to both beginners and experienced users.
IF function in Excel
IF is one of logical functions that evaluates a certain condition and returns one value if the condition is TRUE, and another value if the condition is FALSE.
The syntax of the IF function is as follows:
As you see, IF takes a total of 3 arguments, but only the first one is obligatory, the other two are optional.
Logical_test (required) - the condition to test. Can be evaluated as either TRUE or FALSE.
Value_if_true (optional) - the value to return when the logical test evaluates to TRUE, i.e. the condition is met. If omitted, the value_if_false argument must be defined.
Value_if_false (optional) - the value to return when the logical test evaluates to FALSE, i.e. the condition is not met. If omitted, the value_if_true argument must be set.
Basic IF formula in Excel
To create a simple If then statement in Excel, this is what you need to do:
- For logical_test, write an expression that returns either TRUE or FALSE. For this, you'd normally use one of the logical operators.
- For value_if_true, specify what to return when the logical test evaluates to TRUE.
- For value_if_false, specify what to return when the logical test evaluates to FALSE. Though this argument is optional, we recommend always configuring it to avoid unexpected results. For the detailed explanation, please see Excel IF: things to know.
As an example, let's write a very simple IF formula that checks a value in cell A2 and returns "Good" if the value is greater than 80, "Bad" otherwise:
=IF(B2>80, "Good", "Bad")
This formula goes to C2, and then is copied down through C7:
In case you wish to return a value only when the condition is met (or not met), otherwise - nothing, then use an empty string ("") for the "undefined" argument. For example:
=IF(B2>80, "Good", "")
This formula will return "Good" if the value in A2 is greater than 80, a blank cell otherwise:
Excel If then formula: things to know
Though the last two parameters of the IF function are optional, your formula may produce unexpected results if you don't know the underlying logic.
If value_if_true is omitted
If the 2nd argument of your Excel IF formula is omitted (i.e. there are two consecutive commas after the logical test), you'll get zero (0) when the condition is met, which makes no sense in most cases. Here is an example of such a formula:
=IF(B2>80, , "Bad")
To return a blank cell instead, supply an empty string ("") for the second parameter, like this:
=IF(B2>80, "", "Bad")
The screenshot below demonstrates the difference:
If value_if_false is omitted
Omitting the 3rd parameter of IF will produce the following results when the logical test evaluates to FALSE.
If there is just a closing bracket after value_if_true, the IF function will return the logical value FALSE. Quite unexpected, isn't it? Here is an example of such a formula:
=IF(B2>80, "Good")
Typing a comma after the value_if_true argument will force Excel to return 0, which doesn't make much sense either:
=IF(B2>80, "Good",)
The most reasonable approach is using a zero-length string ("") to get a blank cell when the condition is not met:
=IF(B2>80, "Good", "")
Tip. To return a logical value when the specified condition is met or not met, supply TRUE for value_if_true and FALSE for value_if_false. For the results to be Boolean values that other Excel functions can recognize, don't enclose TRUE and FALSE in double quotes as this will turn them into normal text values.
Using IF function in Excel - formula examples
Now that you are familiar with the IF function's syntax, let's look at some formula examples and learn how to use If then statements in real-life scenarios.
Excel IF function with numbers
To build an IF statement for numbers, use logical operators such as:
- Equal to (=)
- Not equal to (<>)
- Greater than (>)
- Greater than or equal to (>=)
- Less than (<)
- Less than or equal to (<=)
Above, you have already seen an example of such a formula that checks if a number is greater than a given number.
And here's a formula that checks if a cell contains a negative number:
=IF(B2<0, "Invalid", "")
For negative numbers (which are less than 0), the formula returns "Invalid"; for zeros and positive numbers - a blank cell.
Excel IF function with text
Commonly, you write an IF statement for text values using either "equal to" or "not equal to" operator.
For example, the following formula checks the Delivery Status in B2 to determine whether an action is required or not:
=IF(B2="delivered", "No", "Yes")
Translated into plain English, the formula says: return "No" if B2 is equal to "delivered", "Yes" otherwise.
Another way to achieve the same result is to use the "not equal to" operator and swap the value_if_true and value_if_false values:
=IF(C2<>"delivered", "Yes", "No")
Notes:
- When using text values for IF's parameters, remember to always enclose them in double quotes.
- Like most other Excel functions, IF is case-insensitive by default. In the above example, it does not differentiate between "delivered", "Delivered", and "DELIVERED".
Case-sensitive IF statement for text values
To treat uppercase and lowercase letters as different characters, use IF in combination with the case-sensitive EXACT function.
For example, to return "No" only when B2 contains "DELIVERED" (the uppercase), you'd use this formula:
=IF(EXACT(B2,"DELIVERED"), "No", "Yes")
If cell contains partial text
In situation when you want to base the condition on partial match rather than exact match, an immediate solution that comes to mind is using wildcards in the logical test. However, this simple and obvious approach won't work. Many functions accept wildcards, but regrettably IF is not one of them.
A working solution is to use IF in combination with ISNUMBER and SEARCH (case-insensitive) or FIND (case-sensitive).
For example, in case "No" action is required both for "Delivered" and "Out for delivery" items, the following formula will work a treat:
=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("deliv", B2)), "No", "Yes")
For more information, please see:
Excel IF statement with dates
At first sight, it may seem that IF formulas for dates are akin to IF statements for numeric and text values. Regrettably, it is not so. Unlike many other functions, IF does recognize dates in logical tests and interprets them as mere text strings. In other words, you cannot supply a date in the form of "1/1/2020" or ">1/1/2020". To make the IF function recognize a date, you need to wrap it in the DATEVALUE function.
For example, here's how you can check if a given date is greater than another date:
=IF(B2>DATEVALUE("7/18/2022"), "Coming soon", "Completed")
This formula evaluates the dates in column B and returns "Coming soon" if a game is scheduled for 18-Jul-2022 or later, "Completed" for a prior date.
Of course, there is nothing that would prevent you from entering the target date in a predefined cell (say E2) and referring to that cell. Just remember to lock the cell address with the $ sign to make it an absolute reference. For instance:
=IF(B2>$E$2, "Coming soon", "Completed")
To compare a date with the current date, use the TODAY() function. For example:
=IF(B2>TODAY(), "Coming soon", "Completed")
Excel IF statement for blanks and non-blanks
If you are looking to somehow mark your data based on a certain cell(s) being empty or not empty, you can either:
- Use the IF function together with ISBLANK, or
- Use the logical expressions ="" (equal to blank) or <>"" (not equal to blank).
The table below explains the difference between these two approaches with formula examples.
| Logical test | Description | Formula Example | |
| Blank cells | ="" |
Evaluates to TRUE if a cell is visually empty, even if it contains a zero-length string. Otherwise, evaluates to FALSE. |
=IF(A1="", 0, 1)
Returns 0 if A1 is visually blank. Otherwise returns 1. If A1 contains an empty string (""), the formula returns 0. |
| ISBLANK() |
Evaluates to TRUE is a cell contains absolutely nothing - no formula, no spaces, no empty strings. Otherwise, evaluates to FALSE. |
=IF( Returns 0 if A1 is absolutely empty, 1 otherwise. If A1 contains an empty string (""), the formula returns 1. |
|
| Non-blank cells | <>"" | Evaluates to TRUE if a cell contains some data. Otherwise, evaluates to FALSE.
Cells with zero-length strings are considered blank. |
=IF( Returns 1 if A1 is non-blank; 0 otherwise. If A1 contains an empty string, the formula returns 0. |
| ISBLANK() |
Evaluates to TRUE if a cell is not empty. Otherwise, evaluates to FALSE.
Cells with zero-length strings are considered non-blank. |
=IF( Works the same as the above formula, but returns 1 if A1 contains an empty string. |
And now, let's see blank and non-blank IF statements in action. Suppose you have a date in column B only if a game has already been played. To label the completed games, use one of these formulas:
=IF(B2="", "", "Completed")
=IF(ISBLANK(B2), "", "Completed")
=IF($B2<>"", "Completed", "")
=IF(ISBLANK($B2)=FALSE, "Completed", "")
In case the tested cells have no zero-length strings, all the formulas will return exactly the same results:
Check if two cells are the same
To create a formula that checks if two cells match, compare the cells by using the equals sign (=) in the logical test of IF. For example:
=IF(B2=C2, "Same score", "")
To check if the two cells contain same text including the letter case, make your IF formula case-sensitive with the help of the EXACT function.
For instance, to compare the passwords in A2 and B2, and returns "Match" if the two strings are exactly the same, "Do not match" otherwise, the formula is:
=IF(EXACT(A2, B2), "Match", "Don't match")
IF then formula to run another formula
In all of the previous examples, an Excel IF statement returned values. But it can also perform a certain calculation or execute another formula when a specific condition is met or not met. For this, embed another function or arithmetic expression in the value_if_true and/or value_if_false arguments.
For example, if B2 is greater than 80, we'll have it multiplied by 7%, otherwise by 3%:
=IF(B2>80, B2*7%, B2*3%)
Multiple IF statements in Excel
In essence, there are two ways to write multiple IF statements in Excel:
- Nesting several IF functions one into another
- Using the AND or OR function in the logical test
Nested IF statement
Nested IF functions let you place multiple IF statements in the same cell, i.e. test multiple conditions within one formula and return different values depending on the results of those tests.
Assume your goal is to assign different bonuses based on the score:
- Over 90 - 10%
- 90 to 81 - 7%
- 80 to 70 - 5%
- Less than 70 - 3%
To accomplish the task, you write 3 separate IF functions and nest them one into another like this:
=IF(B2>90, 10%, IF(B2>=81, 7%, IF(B2>=70, 5%, 3%)))
For more formula examples, please see:
Excel IF statement with multiple conditions
To evaluate several conditions with the AND or OR logic, embed the corresponding function in the logical test:
For example, to return "Pass" if both scores in B2 and C2 are higher than 80, the formula is:
=IF(AND(B2>80, C2>80), "Pass", "Fail")
To get "Pass" if either score is higher than 80, the formula is:
=IF(OR(B2>80, C2>80), "Pass", "Fail")
For full details, please visit:
If error in Excel
Starting from Excel 2007, we have a special function, named IFERROR, to check formulas for errors. In Excel 2013 and higher, there is also the IFNA function to handle #N/A errors.
And still, there may be some circumstances when using the IF function together with ISERROR or ISNA is a better solution. Basically, IF ISERROR is the formula to use when you want to return something if error and something else if no error. The IFERROR function is unable to do that as it always returns the result of the main formula if it isn't an error.
For example, to compare each score in column B against the top 3 scores in E2:E4, and return "Yes" if a match is found, "No" otherwise, you enter this formula in C2, and then copy it down through C7:
=IF(ISERROR(MATCH(B2, $E$2:$E$4, 0)), "No", "Yes" )
For more information, please see IF ISERROR formula in Excel.
Hopefully, our examples have helped you get a grasp of the Excel IF basics. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!
Practice workbook
Excel IF statement - formula examples (.xlsx file)
4804 comments
how do write fourmela if cell 1 = cell 2 then add whats in cell 3
i have 2 lists 1 of username and pc name and the other one is username and phone number so i put all to the same file i want to make if the name match the name then add the phone number so i can have pc name username phone number
thanks in advance
Hi,
Would someone help me with this assignment, it is urgent!
We want to find the average grade but if i have all A and only a F in the average grade the argument should be "fail" (maybe this is with "IF" function) and i don't know how to do this.
Hope i was clear.
How do you write an IF formula for a question and answer sheet?. Example of sheet would be Line 1 the Question and line 2, 3,4 & 5 would be the answer following a check box next to each answer. When checking the box it would show True or False at line 6.
I need help with a task.
I have three columns, One has a list of vendors and if that vendor was on our job that month I put a Y in the 2nd column next to his name. The 3rd column then will have another Y if that vendor has turned in his paperwork for the month. What I want is if the 3rd column is blank i want to highlight it. But if there is No Y in the 2nd column then I want nothing done for those cells. So in other words, if the vendor wasn't onsite then I don't care if his paperwork is in. But if he was and he hasn't turned it in I want his cells highlighted.
Thank you for your help.
Jennifer
I need your urgent help please
I have two column, i want the current date in second column if i put a text in first column,
When there is no text in first column then no date should be in second column
Ahmed:
From your post it's not clear what type of text should be in the first column, so I just used ISBLANK. Here's what I came up with for you.
=IF(ISBLANK(A2),"",TODAY())
The cell where this formula is entered displays today's date when A2 is not blank otherwise the cell displays nothing.
Doug,
regarding the =IF(ISBLANK(A2),"",TODAY()) , Will the date automatically update each day or will the date be set to whatever day you saved the file? I am trying to use the same idea. I want the date to post when anything is typed in cell A2, but I dont want the date to automatically update each day. I have to create a single file for each day of the month and am hoping to not have to go into each file and type the date each time. Looking to create a template.
Is there a formula for changing a cells color? Conditional Formatting will not work for what I want...
I have a block of text, i.e. A2:F100, (the amount of rows changes every week) in which column A holds the different "Tape Numbers" (AA0053) that I'm verifying. I copy in a column of current available scratch tape numbers in the H column.
What I want is for my formula to look at H2 (AA0008) and search column A. If it finds AA0008 then color fill H2 Green, IF NOT then color fill H2 Red. Then I'll copy that formula down to H3 and so on... I know the =IF statement will do the True/False check, but I'm not sure how to tell it to change the background color.
A B C D E H
AA0008 *EXP 11/19/2018 11/27/2018 11/27/2018 AA0008
AA0058 *EXP 7/21/2013 7/29/2013 3/16/2015 AA0009
AA0085 *EXP 7/10/2018 7/25/2018 7/28/2018 AA0010
AA0086 *EXP 9/1/2018 11/30/2018 11/29/2018 AA0011
AA0105 *EXP 12/14/2018 12/22/2018 12/22/2018 AA0012
Conditional Formatting only find the "True" statement then formats the cell. I also need the false, so I want an "old school" formula. I'm not well versed with VBA, so I'm hoping to stay away from Macros.
My qustion is that in a cell in my worksheet which contain only date (12/12/12 to ...) and n/a so I need comment of dateee no problem,or n/a it should be a problem...
Ansar,
I'm really sorry, your task is not entirely clear. If you're getting difficulties building your own IF formula, please look through these IF basics.
Hope this helps.
I am facing a problem in excel sheet I need your help.
For example if we enter the value like this
1517001255 (A6)
To (A7)
1517001260 (A8)
Than how we can find the (1517001256,1257,1258,1259) in H6
Waiting.
Please if you can help me my IF format is
=IF(C2 ISBLANK,"",+30DAYS
So basically what I want is if there is a date in cell C, then for cell D to add 30 days but if it is blank then leave cell D blank, i have an error in the +30 days but i can not work out how to do it
Hello, Sam:
I think what you're looking for is something like this:
=IF(ISBLANK(C2),"",C2+30)
Be sure C2 and the target cell are formatted as dates.
Thank you so much Doug :)
MF:
There are several ways to identify duplicates in Excel. One way is to use Excel's built-in duplicate identification tool. Check out this article in AbleBits for several methods to accomplish your task.
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/how-to-highlight-duplicates-excel/
When you want to look across several sheets you can use something like this in the formula =COUNTIF(Sheet2!$A$1:$A$7,A1)>0
Where this is in the Sheet1 conditional formula rule.
I'm having all sorts of problems with this. Please help!
First tab: Typical Business Marketing List of 1200 businesses
Column 1: Company Name
Column 2: Address
Column 3: City
etc.
2nd tab: Narrowed list of 50 of those businesses for a targeted mailer.
I'd like to add a column to the main tab that indicates which businesses on the 2nd Tab were sent the mailer, with an X or something, perhaps. To do this, I have to somehow match the two columns on the different tabs and then if there's a match, an X will appear.
I've tried =IF, =MATCH, VLOOKUP with a hundred different options and I can't figure this out.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!
Hii, am having a challenge with using an IF function to filter data of the type: 12/4/2018 5:53:40 PM.
I have got a date captured just like above together with the time and i would like to filter by the date.
How can i go about this?
I am trying to increase vacation hours by 3.5 hours each year after 10 years. So far I have it working for 3 yrs, 4 yrs and 5
=IF(A2>=2016,105,IF(A2>=2015,140,IF(A2>=2012,175))) not sure how to continue to include and increase by 3.5 each year after 2009
>= 95 % = 1
>= 97 %= 2
>= 99.6 %=4
>= 101 %=5
>=103%= 6
Kindly suggest for above if formula
Hello, Dayanand,
Please try the following formula:
=IF(A1 >= 103%, 6, IF(A1 >= 101%, 5,IF(A1 >= 99.6%, 4, IF(A1 >= 97%, 2, IF(A1 >= 95%, 1, "")))))
You can learn more about nested IF function in Excel in this article on our blog.
Hope you’ll find this information helpful.
hi , how can i write the fact that if two countries use the same Currency 'euro' for exemple , 1 otherwise 0 ?
waiting for your response
Hi Sasou,
If we understand your task correctly, the formula below should work for you:
=IF(A1 = B1, 1, 0)
Where A1 and B1 are the cells that contain currencies.
Hope this is what you need.
Please share me Excel Formula for following....
I want difference in two different dates but if this difference is more than 1 day it should reflect other wise not
Hello, Shekhar,
Assuming that your dates are in the first row, the following formula should work for you:
=IF(B1 > A1, B1-A1, "")
Hope this is what you need.
Is this correct
=IF(LEN(C3=10),RIGHT(C3,8),RIGHT(C3,7))
Hi Samith,
I believe this is what you are looking for:
=IF(LEN(C3)=10,RIGHT(C3,8),RIGHT(C3,7))
Seeliya Unit Price Al-Khaira Unit Price Madinah Unit Price
1472.6 420
15.5 40
7.75 2
450 24
6.2 2.5
9.3 3
10.85 12
i need the solution for the above work.
This is the purchasing process. For one material, there are three offers available in quotation. I need the name of the supplier in a column who bidding the price in less.
Thanks in advance.
Dear Sir/Mam,
i am following your formula and suggestions, all is best to use in work,
plzz can you help me????
if there is 1 box included 144 pcs
suppoz i have closing stock is 146 pcs it means 1 box n 2 pcs if there is 288 pcs it means 2 box or if there is 143 pcs it means 143 pcs
which formula i use and how????
plzz help me asap
mail me as soon as possible.
Thanku
If(N2="YES",i should get a drop down list of (a b c d e ), if N2="NO", then i should get NA)
how do i write this formula in excel
Hello, Hermant,
Unfortunately, there is no way to solve your task using standard Excel functions. Most likely you need a special macro. I am really sorry we can’t help you with this.
You may try to find the solution in VBA sections on mrexcel.com or excelforum.com.
I wish I could assist you better.