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

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. Continue reading →

Comments page 73. Total comments: 4830

  1. Hello sabrina,

    Please use below text formula to check diffrence between 2 dates insted of datedif:-

    =TEXT(C22-B22,"yy") (this will come in d22)

    then type in next coloumn =IF(D22<5,"80 Hrs","120 Hrs")

    Enjoy ...!!

    1. Hi Peshiyaboy,

      Regrettably, this simple solution won't work because the result of the TEXT function is always a text string, even if it looks like a number. Consequently, the IF formula won't work correctly.

  2. Hello, I am having some trouble with using the IF function to calculate the vacation entitlement of employees with a certain tenure.

    I would like to stipulate that an employee whose tenure is less than 5 years would get 80 hours of vacation, but if 5 or more years, would get 120 hours of vacation.

    On my spreadsheet, column D displays the tenure. NOTE: the tenure is not a straight number, but a calculation made with a =DATEDIF function.

    The below formula is what I've been using:

    =IF(D2<5, "80", "120")

    However, the answer always ends up being 120 even if the value in column D is less than 5 years. Any assistance in helping me correct this would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance!

    1. Hello Sabrina,

      Most likely, the value in column D is a text string that looks like a number, and it is the source of the problem. To be able to say with certainty, I need to know your formula in D2.

      BTW, the result of your IF formula will also be a text string because you enclosed the numbers in quotation marks, and therefore you wont't be able to use those "text-numbers" in other calculations. So, you'd better put it this way: =IF(D2<5, 80, 120)

  3. =1+11+11+11+11+11+11+1

    please give me sum formula using this sequence after enter getting result but i want answer in excel formula

  4. I have a meeting in 15 minutes and need some excel help fast.

    I have two different excel workbooks. they both contain similar information. What I want is to find out which Product Codes in column A of workbook 1 are also in column B of workbook 2

    Not sure if this is a IF or a VLookup situation

  5. Hello,

    I think this is a really great site! I’ve learned a lot from everyone’s post.

    I was wondering if I could get some help. I am trying to write a formula that looks at a specific cell for a specific text, then looks at another cell for the value and then plugs in a dollar amount based on the value. It’s a tiering system which is looking at the text and based off of that text is trying to determine whether or not a payment is warranted. If I communicated this correctly, I am trying to say the following:

    I am looking for the formula to look in cell “I4” for if it says “M”, “G” or “L”. If “G” is in “I4”, then look at “E4” and see what the value is. If the value of “E4” is 0-9 then “0”, if “E4” is 10-20 then “1” and if “E4” is 21 or greater then “3”. If “M” is in “I4”, then look at “E4” and see what the value is. If the value of “E4” is 0-119 then “0”, if “E4” is 200-250 then “1” and if “E4” is 251 or greater then “3”. If “L” is in “I4”, then look at “E4” and see what the value is. If the value of “E4” is 0-1000 then “0”, if “E4” is 1001-1200 then “1” and if “E4” is 1201 or greater then “3”.

    This is what we initialed started with, but now we have to expand on it and develop a three tier system rather than it look for one value and place a value in it:

    =IFERROR((IF(I4=”M”,COUNTIF(E4,”>=80″),IF(I4=”G”,COUNTIF(E4,”>=120″),IF(I4=”L”,COUNTIF(E4,”>=26″)))))*3,””).

    I now need it to look for three different values for each letter and place a new value based off of that value.

    I hope that makes sense.

    Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

    If nothing else, happy holidays to everyone on this site!

  6. I have this formula so far:
    =IF(B4>=1000,1,"0")

    But I want that if B4 is greater or equal to 1000 then it gets 1 point for every 1000 or 0 if less than 1000.

    please help!!

    1. Hi Khush,

      Try this one: =IF(B4>=1000,INT(B4/1000),0)

  7. if the time exceeded 31minutes the result should be "Missed" , if it did not exceeded result should be "ok"

  8. =IF(I10>0,G10-I10,IF(U10>0,G10-U10,O10))

    CAN U HELP ME IN THIS FORMULA
    G10 IS A SUM OF 3 CELLS

  9. i put a quantity 50 in A1
    and A2 is total quantity A2 (A2 IS A SUM OF B1 AND A1)
    i want if i put any quantity >0 in C1 or D1 then less the quantity from A2 if i dont put any quantity >0 then show me A1 quantity in A2
    can any one help

  10. How I do a formula in excel (column C) to calculate the grade of the persons using the following data.

    A B C
    Name Points Grade
    X 57 F
    Y 88 B
    X 95 A
    W 73 C

    Grades
    A = 90 - 100%
    B = 80 - 89%
    C = 70 - 79%
    D = 60 - 69%
    F = 0 - 59%

    1. Hi luis,
      Plz use below one and replay if u have any doubts...

      =IF(AND(B2=90),"A",IF(AND(B2=80),"B",IF(AND(B2=70),"C",IF(AND(B2=60),"D","F"))))

      1. HI... check below

        =IF(AND(B2=90),"A",IF(AND(B2=80),"B",IF(AND(B2=70),"C",IF(AND(B2=60),"D","F"))))

        1. Sorry to say that .. this is not pasting my orginal formaula,...
          i have formula.. but unable to give... while pasting it missed to give some strings...

          =IF(AND(B2=90),"A",IF(AND(B2=80),"B",IF(AND(B2=70),"C",IF(AND(B2=60),"D","F"))))

  11. i have two sheets in the first sheet i have values and emp id and in the second sheet i want that if in the particular row of first sheet if it contains any value grater than 0 then show on the second sheet and if equal to and less than 0 then no show.
    like
    first sheet have two rows one of which is blank and in the second row value is shown so in the second sheet i want only that second row value
    i think u understand what i want to say

  12. i want add A1 cell and B1 cell but result display in B1 cell

  13. i want and a1 cell and b1 cell but result display in b1 cell

  14. I am trying use an IF and OR function. The formula below works perfectly, but the one below that (where the cell A1 is replaced with the words) doesn't work and comes back with #VALUE.

    =IF(OR(L6="Research",A1),"","N/A")
    =IF(OR(L6="Research","Sales"),"","N/A")

    an anybody help??

    1. I have been able to use your answer for Keith on 2nd December, thank you.

      Answer:

      =IF(OR(L6="Research",L6="Sales"),"","N/A")

  15. Hi, I am trying to display the value in the next column if a value is found from a range. So, I have one workbook with three worksheets.

    The first worksheet has a list of ID's numbers and vendor names. Vendor names would repeat in this sheet and the customer ID could repeat if they use more than one vendor.

    The second sheet has a distinct list of the vendor names along with a tier rating (1,2,3,4).
    I am attempting to lookup the vendor name from sheet 1, find it in the vendor name range from sheet 2, and when found, populate the tier rating.

    To take it a step further, though I could do this function separately after I have the first done, I have a 3rd tier that includes a point value associated with the tier rating. I'll be looking to populate the point value for each row in sheet 1 based on their tier.

    Any help is appreciated. I am caught on how to display the tier value since I am not simple doing a yes or no of whether the text is found, but needing to display corresponding information when the text is found.

    1. I think I need to use a vlookup, but I am just not have any luck.

      1. A little funny with my repeated post, but I did solve my issue of generating the tier using an index/match formula.

  16. This is an awesome article. I'm having problems though getting it to work if the cell it is referencing is on another tab? For example, if B8 on Sheet 2 is a Y, then I want B9 on Sheet 3 to format with a Y or an N if the B8 on Sheet to is an N and blank if B8 is a blank.

  17. I would like to take the value produced in Cell D28 via this formula =ABS(SUM(D12-D24)), if the Value in D12 is less than D24 and have it show on a second sheet called "Score" in cells G12-N12-U12-AB12-AI12. I am at my wits end. I am constructing a score sheet and the value in D28 is the handicap between the team averages listed in d12 and d24.

  18. Hello, Miss... Can I use "IF" Formula for conditional formatting?

    If value in A2 is GREATER than 5% of value of A1, then I want the cell (A2) to be Blue color.
    If value in A2 is LESS than 5% of value of A1, then I want the cell (A2) to be Red color.

    I already know conditional formatting... But can you please send me the correct formula for the above. Thanks.....

  19. Hello,
    Would u please tell me how to do the following in Excel
    if the value in the cell greater than by 0.2 of the value of the other cell display as up regulated
    if it is less than by 0.2 of the value of the same other cell display as down regulated
    other wise diplay as normal.
    thanks alot

  20. Please help,

    what's the formula for

    IF CELL A = GP AND CELL B>3000 ,"H" IF 2000 ,"H" IF 2000 ,"H" IF <150,"L", "M"

    THANK A LOT

  21. Is there a way to code a function in this example?
    IF a cell contains 1 word (of 3 choices) in A1, then I want the value in B1 to appear in C1.

    1. Hello Keith,

      You can enter the following formula in C1:

      =IF(OR(A1="word1", A1="word2", A1="word3"), B1, "")

      1. How can i do this for multiple cells and add them all together?

  22. Thank you. It is helpful. I was thinking about some free version of variation as well.

    Thanks!

  23. Quick Question:
    I wanted to match last names from two excel sheets, then select the values (DOB) to be ported to the other excel sheet. What would be the formula?

  24. =IF(N18<=5,"32A",IF(N18<=5,IF(H18="1x4Cx6","")))

  25. Hi can anybody Correct this Condition

    =IF(A3180,(A3+180),IF(A3>540,(A3-540),"")))

    1. Hello Pawan,

      Probably you meant this:
      =IF(A3>540, A3-540, IF(A3>180, A3+180, ""))

  26. I want create a formula with if condition i am depreciating the value by 33.34% for 1 st year & 2nd Year & 3rd year according to my % of depreciation from the 1st july'16 to 30th june'16 but its not working for current 2016, kindly check the formula & help me.
    AA Column type Z column has date Y Colume
    =IF(AA429="R",0,ROUNDDOWN(IF($Z$1-Z429<=365,Y429*100%,IF($Z$1-Y429<=730,Y429*66.67%,IF($Z$1-Y429<=1095,Y429*33.34%,1))),))

  27. Hi guys good evening!

    How to apply in excel the following formula:

    0 - 136 = tax exempted
    136 - 2500 = 14% tax
    >2500 = 350 plus 25% tax

  28. I can't figure out the "If" Formula.
    Cell B26 is blank, 0.00, or greater than 0.00
    Cell D26 = 970.53
    Cell E26 Formula, to be T1 or T9
    Cell F26 Forumla, to be an amount
    Cell G26 Forumla, to be an amount
    Need the following formulas....
    1) For E26... If B26 = nothing, or 0.00, then E26 = "T9" otherwise "T1". For E26 to be "T1", B26 needs to be greater than 0.00.
    2) For F26... If B26 = nothing, or 0.00, than F26 = D26 otherwise F26 is to be D26-B26.
    3) For G26... If B26 = nothing, or 0.00, then G26 needs to show a zero (not a blank), otherwise G26 is to equal B26.
    Thanks for your help.

  29. I am making a weekly schedule for 2 months. I have entered the days of the week in a column. I need that if the day of week be Monday,Wednesday, Friday then output A , and if it be Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday , then B. Please help with the command line.

  30. Cell A1 is calculated and gives a numeric value.(a time value)
    I have used IF function so that A1 can only show a maximum of 9:30 even if the calculated value is more than 9:30.

    A1 is then used by other cells to calculate other values.

    I want to be able to show the value in A1 like so :

    If A1 is equal to or greater than 9:30 then show cell value as 9:30

    If A1 is less than 9:30 then show that actual value

    Can anyone help ?

    Thanks

  31. I have a spreadsheet where column E represents the amount of money owed for a monthly payment and column K asks "yes or no?" (using a drop-down list) to whether or not a late fee ($50) should be applied. I'm having trouble creating an "IF" formula that would add $50 to the amount listed in column E "IF" column K answered "Yes". Can someone help?

  32. I have four values in four columns. If first column's value is greater than 0 and the second colummn is equal to zero and third column is greater than 0 and fourth column is equal to 0, i want to type pass in the fifth column. Else fail. Can anyone help to write a formula for this?

    1. IF( AND( $A1>0, $B1=0, $C1>0, $D1=0), "Pass", "Fail")

  33. Hi there, bit of a tricky one here. This works fine, but i have to do this for 11 colums, is there a way so shorten this code?

    ="Port: "&IF(AND(G2>100,G2100,G3100,G4100,G5100,G6100,G7100,G8100,G9100,G10100,G11100,G12100,G13100,G14100,G15100,G16100,G17100,G18100,G19100,G20100,G21100,G22100,G23100,G24<500),"23,","")

    1. ="Port: "&IF(AND(G2>100,G2100,G3100,G4100,G5100,G6100,G7100,G8100,G9100,G10100,G11100,G12100,G13100,G14100,G15100,G16100,G17100,G18100,G19100,G20100,G21100,G22100,G23100,G24<500),"23,","")

      1. ="Port: "
        &IF(AND(G2>100,G2100,G3100,G4100,G2<500),"A2,","")

        And if possible to shorten this, because writing it out for every row 23 time s is a drag

  34. Hai,

    i am looking a formula for calculating gratuity as basis of "OnDuty".
    i have found the formula to calculate the gratuity for slab basis. but now i am facing one issue, that while applying this formula to a text containing condition its been showing an error.
    1. =(IF(Q3-G3+1<=1825,(J3/30)*21/365*(Q3-G3+1),IF(AND(Q3-G3+1=1826),J3/30/365*28*(Q3-G3+1-1825)+(J3/30)*21/365*1825,IF(AND(Q3-G3+1=3651),((J3/30/365*35)*(Q3-G3+1-3650))+(J3/30/365*28*1825)+(J3/30)*21/365*1825,0))))

    2. =IF(H3="OnDuty",(IF(Q3-G3+1<=1825,(J3/30)*21/365*(Q3-G3+1),IF(AND(Q3-G3+1=1826),J3/30/365*28*(Q3-G3+1-1825)+(J3/30)*21/365*1825,IF(AND(Q3-G3+1=3651),((J3/30/365*35)*(Q3-G3+1-3650))+(J3/30/365*28*1825)+(J3/30)*21/365*1825,0)))),"")

    please reply

  35. =IF(BD2,"Not a Target", "Not a Target, BD2&": "&BC2)

    I'm not sure what I am doing wrong? Any ideas?

    1. Hi Sarah,

      The syntax of the Excel IF function allows 3 arguments, while your formula has 4. If you can provide some details about the source data and expected result, I will try to help.

  36. Thanks for clear explanations on this IF problem.

  37. Been looking online and trying for hours now and have failed to find a solution to my desired outcome in my workbook.

    I have column A with order numbers that look like this, a3er-k8uy. Every order has a base fee of $4.50 which I manually input into column B. I would like column B to fill in the $4.50 any time I input an order number. Is the IF formula the one to use, if so how?

  38. I have a formula that sums my WIP. I want an IF formula to help me mark Error if that sum is over $0.00 and balanced if its $0.00. I have tried but my formula will not pick up unless I manually type 0.

  39. Hi, I missed a symbol in the example I provided with my query. Correct example for the formula I am aiming to apply in cell B1 is =IF(AND(A1"",B1=""),"Display Error Message","Allow selection from list of values for B1")
    Thanks

  40. Hi,
    I am trying to display an error message using IF function.

    Data for one of my columns (say column B) is a list of value. Depending upon the value selected by the user in Column B, I populate the values in column C using the LookUp function.

    Column A of my worksheet has a date and if user enters a date for a record in column A, I want the user to select one of the values(from drop down list) in column B. If the user doesn't enters the value in column B and leaves it blank, I want to display an error message.
    e.g. =IF(AND(A1"",B1=""),"Display Error Message","Allow selection from list of values for B1)

    Pls guide. Thanks

  41. I'm creating time sheets in Excel. I would like for a cell to automatically populate "8" if another cell contains any one of several dates. I am able to use the following formula successfully for one date:

    =IF(O9=DATEVALUE("12/23"),8,"")

    However, I would like to use multiple dates. For instance, show "8" if cell O9 contains 12/23, 4/14, or 11/24. Otherwise, leave the cell blank.

    Any ideas?

    1. Sorry this a cut and paste from me elsewhere. Check if the cell does/does not exist in a named range of cells containing your exception dates.

      Hi, sorry I don't have a spreadsheet in front of me to syntax check.

      Eg.
      IF( OR( A1="Football" , A1="Basketball", A1="Hockey"), "Sport" , "Something Else" )
      -OR-
      I often flip my IF statements to check for Errors or Exceptions first.
      Eg.
      Define an area in Formula Tab, MySportList=$L$31:$L$59
      Fill these cells with your sports.
      IF( ISERROR( VLOOKUP( A1, MySportList, 1, false)), "Something Else", "Sport")
      # IF TEST is, if you get an error when trying to lookup the contents of A1 from your list of Sports in cells, L31:L59, then display "Something Else", else display "Sport".

  42. if A1 is 0 print 0 and if B1 is 0 print 0 and if ((A1 and B1)>0) print =A1+B1

    1. IF( OR( A1=0, B1=0), 0, IF( AND( A1>0, B1>0), SUM(A1+B1), "A or B is less than Zero")

  43. Hi Svetlana Cheusheva,

    I am facing issue with this formula and need your guidance.

    i am preparing a sheet which contains Team attendance and would like to use IF condition. For ex: if a person is coming in the morning shift he has to number as 1, if afternoon it's 2 and Night it's 3, Leave it's 4. How can I write a formula for this. Please advice me on this.

  44. hello Emmanuel again =IF(D8"",D8+8,"OFF") this formula works on a same sheet but picking the source from a different sheet doesn't give me the correct answer example =IF(Sheet1!D3"", D3+8,"OFF". it only gives me 8 without adding the figure in the cell. can you help

  45. I am looking for some help and guidance. in Excel 2007

    basically I have 3 cells. In one cell I have a calibration date, In second cell I have due date, and in third cell i have frequency of calibration i.e. quarterly, annually and 2 years. Now at the moment I have to manually change all the dates whenever the due date is up, what I would like to do, is to be able to change the calibration date and for the due date to change automatically based on the frequency of calibration.

    Could someone please help me with this issue? Many thank

  46. Hi,

    I need a help.

    Assume that this values are in one cell "'C3, C4, C6, C10, C11, C12, C16, C17, C18, C22, C23, C24, C30, C31, C33, C34" .

    I need a formula that whether C17 is present in that cell or not.

  47. i want to create a formula where =IF(D8"","+8","OFF") where if not blank add 8 and if blank put off. But the formula is not given me the required result

    1. Hello Emmanuel,

      Here's the correct syntax:
      =IF(D8<>"", D8+8, "OFF")

  48. Hello Svetlana,

    I have a conditional formula in Column F and am seeking a conditional formula for Column G. My goal is for Column F to affect Column G, dependent on the parameters I give Column G. I would like for Column G's logic to be as follows:

    If F1 is >=6 concurrently <11 [then] if true, G1 = 1. If false, G1 = "".

    Thank you for your valuable help.

  49. I want red font color if the logic is false.
    Pls. guide me.
    with thanks

  50. I have a date format in column e and in column f I have put a formula for it to automatially update it to 3 years later by adding 1095 to column e. Now, I am trying to get column a to turn red 60 days before column f is mature. I have tried conditional formatting but for some reason it doesn't work.

    1. Hi, sorry I don't have a spreadsheet in front of me to syntax check.

      Checks:
      Column E has numbers that display as text and not text "12/09/2020".
      Column F should be the formula =E1+1095 and display 12/09/2023.
      Format:
      Condition Formatting on Cell Range =$E$1:$E$51 as a formula option.
      IF( TODAY() >= (F1 - 60), TRUE, FALSE)

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