How to use the IF function
The IF function returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.
Excel function syntax
IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Arguments
| logical_test | Required. The logical expression determines what value the IF function returns. Excel evaluates all numerical values positive or negative to TRUE except 0 (zero) that equals FALSE. |
| [value_if_true] | Optional. The value the IF function returns if the logical expression evaluates to TRUE. If omitted 0 (zero) is returned. |
| [value_if_false] | Optional. The value the IF function returns if the logical expression evaluates to FALSE. If omitted 0 (zero) is returned. |
Logical operators
These characters allow you to do more advanced comparisons than the equal sign.
= (equal sign)
< less than
> greater than
<= less than or equal to
>= greater than or equal to
<> not equal
Use an Excel function to perform a logical test
The picture above shows a formula in cell range C3 that tests if cell B3 is blank. It is not blank so it returns FALSE, however, cell B4 is blank so the IF function returns TRUE in cell C4.
In cell C5 the IF function tests if a cell value is a number. Cell B6 has a number and cell B7 has a text value.
Cell C7 tests if B7 contains a formula.
Download excel *.xlsx file
Learn how to use the IF function.xlsx
This extensive function reference list provides detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for many of the functions used in Excel formulas. Click on headers to sort table.
Articles with the 'IF' Function
The following 7 articles have formulas that contain the IF function.
Nested IF statements in a formula are multiple combined IF functions so more conditions and outcomes become possible. They all are [โฆ]
IF with AND function โ multiple conditions
The AND function allows you to have multiple conditions in an IF function, you can have up to 254 arguments. [โฆ]
Use IF + COUNTIF to perform numerous conditions
The COUNTIF function allows you to construct a small IF formula that carries out plenty of logical expressions. Combining the IF [โฆ]
The easiest way to check if a cell contains a specific text string is, in my opinion, the IF and [โฆ]
The formula above in cell D3 performs two different logical tests, if at least one of them is TRUE one [โฆ]
If cell contains text from list
The array formula in cell C3 checks if cell B3 contains at least one of the values in List (E3:E7), [โฆ]
If cell equals value from list
Regular formula Formula in cell C3: =IF(COUNTIF($E$3:$E$5,B3),"Yes","No") The COUNTIF function counts how many values in E3:E5 match cell B3, it returns [โฆ]
Functions in 'Logical'
The IF function function is one of many functions in the 'Logical' category.
The image above demonstrates the AND function with two logical expressions. If the value in column B is equal to [โฆ]
The FALSE function returns the logical (boolean) value FALSE. Excel Function Syntax FALSE() Arguments The FALSE function has no arguments. [โฆ]
Checks if a logical expression is met. Returns a specific value if TRUE and another specific value if FALSE.
How to use the IFERROR function
If the value argument returns an error, the value_if_error argument is used. If the value argument does NOT return an error, the IFERROR function [โฆ]
The IFNA function handles #N/A errors only, it returns a specific value if the formula returns a #N/A error. Formula [โฆ]
The IFS function checks whether one or more conditions are met and returns a value that corresponds to the first [โฆ]
The NOT function returns the boolean opposite to the given argument. TRUE returns FALSE and FALSE returns TRUE. Formula in [โฆ]
The OR function allows you to carry out a logical test in each argument and if at least one argument returns [โฆ]
How to use the SWITCH function
The SWITCH function returns a given value determined by an expression and a list of values. If the expression matches [โฆ]
Returns the logical (boolean) value TRUE. Excel Function Syntax TRUE() Arguments The TRUE function has no arguments. Comments Excel interprets [โฆ]
The XOR function was introduced in Excel 2013 and calculates the logical exclusive OR meaning if at least one of the [โฆ]
13 Responses to โHow to use the IF functionโ
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[...] Interested in how the IF function works, read this post: IF function explained [...]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test;[value_if:true];[value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test,[value_if_true],[value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test, [value_if_true],[value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test,[value_if:true], [value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
Hi Oscar
Thank you for your explanation and examples. I'd really appreciate it if you could you help me with this:
I'm trying to say, "if a cell from E2 to E89 contains 1, then sum the contents of the corresponding cell in D", ie. I only want to add D cell contents together if the corresponding E cell contains '1'.
=SUM(IF(E2:E89=1, D2:D89, 0))
Thank you!
Alison.
[โฆ] If function [โฆ]
[โฆ] want to sort text values only, the IF and ISTEXT functions check if a value is a text [โฆ]
[โฆ] If the value in cell K23 is larger than cell K24 AND cell K24 is smaller than K25 THEN return the closing price. If not return nothing. Read more about IF function. [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test;[value_if:true];[value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]
[โฆ] IF(logical_test,[value_if:true];[value_if_false]) Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE [โฆ]