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. I require a code for

    IF E4 = Closed then E4 fill colour will be Green if not it will be Red

    Wonder if you can help? also need it for whole column eg E4-E20?? same formula just whole column

  2. Are there any rules while using the word "TRUE" and "FALSE" in IF formula
    For example,
    =IF(A2="TRUE","A","B") - Even A2 is true, this formula is not working. It gives always "B". Why? Then I just remove brackets and just put the formula like =IF(A2=TRUE,"A","B"), it is working. Any concerns?

    • Hi Magil,

      The "TRUE" in brackets is a string, not boolean value.
      The formula =IF(A2="TRUE","A","B") will return "A" if you have the "TRUE" as string in cell A2. Please try to type "TRUE" in cell A2 and change the cell format to Text.

  3. if(V11>3 & V11<5)then (ok), if not (not ok)
    any one can help :\

    • =IF(AND(V11>3, V11<5),"OK","NOT OK")

  4. Why does this change what I write?

    • Hi,

      use this formula
      =if(D2=3001,"3",""))

      • =IF(AND(D2>1501,D2<3001=3001,3,""))

        • Formula didn't copy right - here you go.
          =IF(AND(N2>1501,N2=3001,3,""))

          • Our blog engine often distorts "<" and ">" symbols in formulas, sorry for this, but we just cannot fix it on our side.

            If my understanding of the task is correct, I'd suggest using nested If's:

            =IF(D2>3001, 3, IF(D2>1501, 2, ""))

            If D2 is greater than 1501 but less than 3001 it returns 2, if D2 is greater than 3001 it returns 3, an empty string otherwise.

  5. I want to make a formula to say if D2 1501 but less than 3001 then "2" and if D2>3001 then "3". I just can't seem to use IF correctly to make this work.

  6. I want to make a formula to say if D21501 but less then 3001 then "2" and if D2>3001 then "3". I just can't seem to use IF correctly to make this work.

  7. In G8, enter an IF formula to calculate the share price difference between 2/25/2016 and 2/26/2016 for each of the 30 companies if that company’s share price was not zero on 2/26/2016. In case of a zero price, the formula returns “N/A”. Autofill the cells below to G37 with the formula in G8.Im not sure how to write this formula.

    • I'd need a bit more info to actually write up a formula, but sounds like you'll want to do a VLOOKUP

      • Hello!
        In a situation #N/A may use the formula IFNA.
        eg: =IFNA(VLOOKUP("Seattle",$A$5:$B$10,0),"Not found")
        (IFNA tests the result of the VLOOKUP function. Because Seattle is not found in the lookup range, VLOOKUP returns the #N/A error value. IFNA returns the string "Not found" in the cell instead of the standard #N/A error value.)

  8. Hello ,

    I want your support for if condition formula ,,,, I do export from 2 plants into different destinations and I want that the formula to chose for the destination the plant from which it departure , fro exemple: lets say departure plants ,, (X1 and X 2 ) and destination as follow, i have rapa , rochling and stirling park from X1 and for X2 i have the rest.....) i want the formula to put x1 or x 2 depanding on the destination,

    thanks in advance

  9. Hi,
    I was wondering if you could help me with a formula that would label all orders between 8:00 and 17:00 "Day" and all orders outside this timeframe "Night".
    I had =IF(H2>=8,H2<=17,"Day","Night" but it doesn't work.
    Thanks

    • Hi Clara,

      use this formula

      =if(and(H2>=8,H2<=17),"Day","Night")

  10. Good day,

    Can you help with this formula: If C2=1 then D2=E1

    A B C D E

    1 (%) Spent to date 0.00%

    2 Feb-16 0 0.00% R -
    3 Mar-16 0 0.00% R -
    4 Apr-16 0 0.00% R -
    5 May-16 0 0.00% R -
    6 Jun-16 0 0.00% R -

  11. In sheet 1 Month & year and in sheet 2 period ( from to )i want formula if the ending date is 15th, month & year taken in sheet 1 earlier month & year. if date is 16th month & year taken in sheet 1 after month & year in sheet 1

    please help me.

  12. My if statement does not work on text data, only numeric. I have changed the format to read General or Text for the two columns that I'm trying to compare and it is as if it does not know it is text?

    • Hello Vickie,

      Please make sure you enter text in quotes. If it still doesn't work, please share the formula you are trying to use.

  13. I want to enter an if function that says if something in cell A3 matches sheet 2 cells B2:B18 than insert what is in cell F2:f18.

  14. Hi,

    need help to formula the following:

    If A1 is ">40", A2 Value should be "1"
    If A1 is "31-40", A2 Value should be "2"
    If A1 is "30", A2 Value should be "3"
    If A1 is "20", A2 Value should be "4"
    If A1 is "<15", A2 Value should be "5"

    I can only get the 1st and the 2nd correct.
    results of 3rd-5th is the same as the 2nd which is "2"

    --------------

    I have another one which is perfect:
    =IF(Q13<6,1,IF(Q13<=6.4,2,IF(Q13=6.5,3,IF(Q137,5)))))

    but couldn't apply that same formula to the first problem.

    hope anyone can help me.

    Thanks!

    • Hi Ali.
      You can use this formula:
      =IF(A1<15,5,IF(A1=20,4,IF(A1=30,3,IF(AND(A1>=31,A1<=40),2,IF(A1>40,1,"")))))

  15. I am having difficulty with a formula used to calculate whether a pupil has passed a unit in their course.

    This is the formula, but when I enter P in either of the first 2 columns then I get #NAME. Any help would be much appreciated.

    =IF(OR(BB7="p",BC7="p"),IF(or(BK7="p"BF7="p",IF(or(BL7="p",BG7="p",IF(or(BM7="p",BH="p")"P",""),""),""),"")

    • Hi Janine,

      u try this

      =IF(OR(BB7="p",BC7="p"),"p",IF(or(BK7="p"BF7="p"),"p",IF(or(BL7="p",BG7="p"),"p",IF(or(BM7="p",BH="p"),"P",""))))

  16. Hi, this was very informative! Thank you so much!
    I'm wondering if you can take your idea one step further. I currently have =IF(F2>I2, "2", "0"), so if F2 is greater than I2, my cell shows a 2, and if it is smaller than, it shows a 0... but how do I include if F2=I2, the cell will show 1? (In essence, I'm trying to calculate scores for baseball, where a win = 2 points, a loss = 0 points and a tie = 1 point. Thanks in advance!
    Cheers,
    Shannon

    • Hi Shannon,

      =if(F2>I2,"2",if(F2<I2,"0",if(F2=I2,"1","")))

      • Thank you, Hemanth! This is just the question that I had as well. Very helpful.

    • Thanks to your question I've managed to solve mine. Many thanks x

  17. Hi,
    am using =LEN(N4)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(N4,",","")) to determine the number of text values separated by commas. I need to count the number of text values in the cell which are separated by a comma. e.g.
    cell b3 alpha,bravo, charlie
    cell b3 contains 3 text values, but only 2 commas
    How do we count the number of text values in a cell, or the number of commas + 1 ?

    in pseudo:
    if cell contains one comma,
    then comma count is one, but the text value is two,
    (if text values are separated by a comma, then this means that
    there is two text values)
    if there two commas found,
    then there must be 3 text values, etc.

    thanks!

    • Hello Steve,

      Assuming there is always one text value more than there are commas, you can simply add 1 to your original formula:
      =LEN(N2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(N2,",",""))+1

  18. Hello,

    I have a spreadsheet that I need to remove duplicates but I have multiple rows have the same "Students Name" but the variances are on 2 columns Yes for Pell and Yes for DL. If the student received Pell and DL it shows in 2 rows I need to have it in 1 row. Also some of the students only received Pell but not the DL. I know I did this If formula last year but I just can't remember exactly please help.

    StudentName DL Pell FundSource
    Aguirre, Leticia Y N DIRUNSUB
    Aguirre, Leticia N Y PELL
    Aguirre, Leticia Y N DIRSUB

  19. I want to use excel formula using if. (If I enter 1,00,000 the result is to come 15,000 in specific column

    (If I enter 2,00,000 instead of 1 lac the result is to be come 16,000 in in the same specific column

    (If I enter 3,00,000 instead of 1 lac or 2 lacs & the result is to come 17,000 in the specific column

    (If I enter 4,00,000 instead of 1,2,or 3 lacs the result is to come 18,000 in the same specific column

    (If I enter 5,00,000 instead of 1,2,3 or 4 lacs the result is to come 19,000 in the same specific colum

  20. I need help to construct one formula
    i.e.

    if the value in A1 is greater than 10 than result will be 1 and if the value is less than 5 result will be .5

    • Hi,
      =if(A1>=10,"1",if(A1<=5,"5",""))

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