How to use IF function in Excel: examples for text, numbers, dates, blanks

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:

IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])

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: Basic IF formula in Excel.

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: IF formula to return nothing when the condition is not met.

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: The behavior of the value_if_true argument.

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", "") The behavior of the value_if_false argument.

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. A formula to check if a cell contains a negative number.

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. Using the IF function with text.

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") Case-sensitive IF statement for text values.

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") IF cell contains partial text.

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. Excel IF statement with dates.

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(ISBLANK(A1), 0, 1)

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(A1<>"", 1, 0)

Returns 1 if A1 is non-blank; 0 otherwise.

If A1 contains an empty string, the formula returns 0.
ISBLANK()=FALSE Evaluates to TRUE if a cell is not empty. Otherwise, evaluates to FALSE.

Cells with zero-length strings are considered non-blank.

 =IF(ISBLANK(A1)=FALSE, 0, 1)

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: IF statement for blank and non-blank cells.

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", "") Check if two cells contain the same values.

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") Case-sensitive IF formula to check if two cells 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%) IF formula that runs another formula.

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%))) Nested IF statement.

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") Excel IF statement with multiple conditions.

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" ) If error formula in Excel.

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)

Table of contents

4804 comments

  1. if weight is 0.001 to 2.000 Kg = 10 Rs & above 2.000 per kg 2 Rs.

    • Hi Sunil,

      u can use this formula
      =IF(AND(I22>=0.0001,I22<1999.99),"10","2")

  2. =if(I22,"2")
    Please help function is not working

  3. Hi,
    How to use IF statement....

  4. I have the following:

    IF(TODAY()<=DATEVALUE("03/15/16"),TRUE,FALSE) which is working fine. I rather not make reference to the year so that I don't have to change the formula every year. Any ideas? I've tried to use a cell reference instead of TODAY() but the year is always present. I also can't seem to get around having the datevalue be MM/DD/YY.

  5. Where we can get the works using excel (work from home) any idea please send me the details.

  6. can you use "OR" in If formulas?

    i.e if a cell has values LV1 or LV2 (Either or)

    True: "OK"

    False: "Invalid"

    • Hi Johnny,

      Sure, you can. The formula can look similar to this:

      =IF(OR(A1="LV1", A1="LV2"), "OK", "Invalid")

  7. Hi,
    I am using the German version of Excel, I want to add ">0" (bigger than zero)
    wit this formula,
    Can someone help me please how to do it

    Thank you
    =SUMMEWENN(C11:C47,"Handy",G11:G41)
    I have allready tried so it is not working
    =sumif(C11:C47,"Handy",G11:G41,">0")

    • Hi Nabi,

      Firstly, because you have 2 conditions, you need to use the SUMIFS function that allows for multiple criteria. And secondly, the ranges should be of the same size. You also need to specify the sum_range.

      If you want to count the cells based on 2 conditions, then use the COUNTIFS function like:

      =COUNTIFS(C11:C47,"Handy",G11:G47,">0")

      • Thank you very much for your help it was useful but it counting the numbers of the name repeating not the amounts in the cells.

  8. Hi Svetlana. Can you please help me with an If statement I am trying to create for a data set? The condition is that if the following names are within a specific column, then label it "pricing" in the exisiting cell or else if none of these names exist within that column then call it "contracting". So For example, IF (B7="Bob","Claire", "Roger")= "Pricing" OR "Contracting". Something along those lines..

    • Hi Safah,

      witch name coming under "Pricing" u make one column(example,"Bob","Claire", "Roger" this name in C column),and compare to B2 and "Pricing" column u are result will come..

      formula =if(B7=C:C,"Pricing","Contracting")

  9. Hi Svetlana. Can you please help me with a formula? I want a cell to return the word "Write-Off" if the cell is bettween -$1 and $1. However the formula that I have doesnt work. =IF(AND(B2>1, B2<-1), "WRITE OFF", ""). Thank you.

    • hi Sue,

      use this formula your result will come...
      =if(B2<2,"WRITE OFF","")

      • Hi Sue,

        Your used the right approach, just swap the numbers in the AND statement:
        =IF(AND(B2>-1, B2<1), "WRITE OFF", "")

        If you want between -$1 and $1 inclusive, then use the following operators:
        =IF(AND(B2>=-1, B2<=1), "WRITE OFF", "")

  10. please can any body advice:
    when need c1= a1 or b1 (if b1=0 then c1=a1)

  11. I have various cells with different dates, going along I want to highlight cells that have a difference in date greater than 6 weeks between them

    IE.

    A B C
    1 Review 1 Review 2 Review 3
    2 01.01.2015 01.02.2015 01.12.2015

    So review 3 date I want to be highlighted as there more than 6 weeks between them.

    I found one which is =today()-C3>42 but that’s not right is it coz that’s working from today… right? BUT if I change it to =-B2-C2>42 I thought that might work but it only works on one cell (I’m obvs changing to B3 etc.) I’m soooo stuck!

    • can u pls sand me work sheet "hemanth923@gmail.com"

      • hi Daisy,

        first u convert to days like below formula =DAYS360(A2,TODAY())
        386 356 56 32
        01-01-2015 01-02-2015 01-12-2015 25-12-2015

        and down cell u use this formula =HLOOKUP(IF(42<A1,A1),A1:A2,2,FALSE)

        42 days above it will so date, 45 days below it will so #N/A

        i thing this is method for u are result

        • ah thank you, I will send it to you now!

          • Hemanth, did you get my email?

  12. IF B1 (46,371) is less than C1 (240,000)
    = result will be B1 (46,371)

    Or if B1 (250,000) is greater than C1 (240,000)
    = result will be C1 (240,000)

    pls help me to assign formula.

    thanks & best regards

    faahem

    • =IF(B1<C1,B1,C1)

      • Hi, faahem

        Formula is =max(B1:C1) this will give the result which ever is of greater value.

  13. IF B1 is less than C1= result will be B1 Or if B1 is greater than C1= result will be C1

    pls help me to get the formula

    regards

    faahem

  14. Sub MyRange1All()

    Dim wSheet As Worksheet

    ' Amend ranges
    please help - why does the following only change one worksheet. I want to loop through all worksheets,

    ActiveSheet.Protection.AllowEditRanges.Add Title:="Range1", Range:=Range( _
    "A1:M1")

    For Each wSheet In Worksheets
    Next wSheet

    End Sub

  15. can any1 tell me a formula for this:
    Months: Jan Feb March Apr May
    Prodt1: 25 30 35 20 10
    Prodt2: 16 45 80 65 25
    Prodt3: 15 65 32 45 75

    i want to create a formula to catch the month having maximam rate in the next two columns.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Hi Abid,

      Sorry, I'm not sure I can follow you. To make things clearer, what exactly values do you want to have in the next 2 columns for Prodt1?

    • Hi, faahem

      Formula is =max(B1:C1) this will give the result which ever is of greater value.

    • hi Abid
      your repor like below...
      Months: Jan Feb March Apr May
      Prodt1: 25 30 35 20 10
      Prodt2: 16 45 80 65 25
      Prodt3: 15 65 32 45 75

      how many "Prodt1" row is there that much you copy and paste in down row month also and use this formula =HLOOKUP(MAX(B3:F3),B3:F6,4,FALSE)
      below like...
      Months: Jan Feb March Apr May your result
      Prodt1: 25 30 35 20 10 March
      Prodt2: 16 45 80 65 25 March
      Prodt3: 15 65 32 45 75 May
      Jan Feb March Apr May
      Jan Feb March Apr May
      Jan Feb March Apr May

      • Months: Jan Feb March Apr May "your result "
        Prodt1: 25 30 35 20 10 March
        Prodt2: 16 45 80 65 25 March
        Prodt3: 15 65 32 45 75 May
        Months: Jan Feb March Apr May
        Months: Jan Feb March Apr May
        Months: Jan Feb March Apr May

  16. Good morning,

    Could someone help me with a formula? I need to make the following logic.

    If A1&B1="Text" then Display "Text". If A1&B1 = Time entered then calculate Total Number of Hours worked i.e B1-A1

    Thank you very much in advance

    AQureshi

    • If A1 and B1 are text values, do you want to display one of those texts, or both, or some other text?

  17. how i can calculate 50/100 times 45 = 23 in Microsoft excel

  18. Hi Svetlana

    If i have in cell (say A-1) Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday or Saturday and i want a number to appear in A-2 if its finds on of those days. example A-1 equals "Tuesday" so A-2 fills with "100" how is this done?

  19. Hi Svetlana,
    I'm trying to find a formula like: =(if H2 - L2 > 5 "conflict" or H2-L2 < -5 "conflict"). Thank you very much in advance.

    • Hi Emre,

      You can use a formula similar to this:

      =IF(OR(H2-L2>5, H2-L2<-5),"conflict", "")

  20. Need Help!
    If A1 says "Daniel" then B1 needs to be 30, but if it says "Jessica" it it needs to be 20, and if its any other name then the cell needs to be blank

    • Hi Joe,

      Here you go:

      =IF(A1="Daniel", 30, IF(A1="Jessica", 20, ""))

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