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Excel IF function

The IF statement returns one value when a condition is true (if then) and another when false (if else). Chain nested IFs or IFS for multiple thresholds, and combine with AND / OR for multi-condition tests.

IF statement syntax & arguments

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, [value_if_false])

The IF function is the foundational building block for spreadsheet decision logic. It returns one value if true, and another if false.

1 logical_test
Required

Any value or expression that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE (e.g. A2 >= 90, B2 = "Pending", or C2 > AVERAGE(C$2:C$10)).

2 value_if_true
Required

The value to return when logical_test is TRUE. Can be double-quoted text (e.g. "Pass"), a number, a cell reference, or another calculation.

3 value_if_false
Optional

The value to return when logical_test is FALSE. If omitted, returns FALSE. Often chained with another nested IF for tiered grading.

Interview classic: letter-grade ladder

=IF(A2>=90, "A", IF(A2>=80, "B", IF(A2>=70, "C", "D")))

Evaluate thresholds strictly top-down (90 first, then 80, then 70). Once a condition matches, subsequent conditions are skipped.

How to write an IF statement in Excel (IF then / IF else)

  1. Start with the condition (logical_test) — Decide what to test: A2>=90 for a grade line, B2="Done" for a status match. The test must evaluate to TRUE or FALSE.
  2. Add the two outcomes — value_if_true is the if-then result; value_if_false is the if-else result. Wrap text values in double quotes.
  3. Chain IFs or switch to IFS — One IF handles two outcomes. For more thresholds, nest the next IF inside value_if_false — or use the IFS function in modern Excel.

IF with AND / OR: multiple conditions in one IF

The IF condition holds a single logical test. Nest AND or OR inside it to check several cells or thresholds at once:

=IF(AND(A2>=60, B2>=60), "Pass", "Fail")

AND: every condition must be TRUE — both scores need to reach 60.

=IF(OR(A2>=90, B2>=90), "Pass", "Retry")

OR: any single TRUE is enough — one score of 90 or higher passes.

IF cell contains text & IF not blank

IF has no built-in "contains" test. The classic pattern searches for the text, then converts the result to TRUE/FALSE with ISNUMBER:

=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("urgent", A2)), "Priority", "Normal")

SEARCH locates "urgent" inside A2 (case-insensitive) and returns a position number — or an error when missing; ISNUMBER turns that into TRUE/FALSE for IF. Use FIND for a case-sensitive match.

Practice: IF Cell Contains Text →
=IF(A2<>"", "Filled", "Empty")

IF not blank: <>"" means "not equal to empty". To test for blank cells directly, use ISBLANK(A2).

Nested IF vs Modern IFS

Nested IF

Universal compatibility across all Excel versions, Sheets, and interview assessments. Easy to understand when read top-to-bottom.

IFS

Cleaner for many branches in modern Excel & Sheets: =IFS(A2>=90,"A", A2>=80,"B", A2>=70,"C", TRUE,"D"), avoiding closing parenthesis piles.

Common mistakes & gotchas

  • Order matters — Threshold order matters: If you test A2>=70 first, a score of 95 will immediately match C. Always check highest thresholds first.
  • Text quotes — Text return values must have quotes: "A", not bare A. Without quotes, Excel assumes it is a named range and triggers #NAME? error.
  • Blank cells — Blank cells vs zero: Excel may treat blank cells as zero in certain mathematical comparisons. Use ISBLANK if empty cells need separate handling.

Intro IF statement practice problem

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Related practice problems

Practice combining IF statements, lookups, and math formulas in realistic, bite-sized challenges.

Hard Logic

Calculate tiered sales commission (IF)

Quarter-end is here and sales ops needs commission run for the team in B2:B5. The plan has three tiers: 8% on sales of at least 10,000, 5% on sales of at least 5,000, and 3% below that. Fill the Commission cells D2:D5 with each person's payout.
Medium Logic

Check if cell contains specific text (IF + SEARCH)

Customer support needs to triage incoming tickets in A2:A5. If a ticket's message contains the word Urgent (case-insensitive), label it as Priority; otherwise, label it as Normal. Fill the Priority status cells B2:B5 using an IF formula that checks for substring presence.
Medium Logic

Compare a score to the middle value

You're analyzing a class quiz: the five scores are already entered in A2:A6, and you want to know whether the first student's score in A2 sits above, below, or right at the middle of the class. Fill the vs Middle cell B2 — return Above, Below, or Equal.
Easy Logic

Count passing scores (COUNTIF)

You just finished grading an exam for an adult-education class. The passing line is 60 points, and the grade report needs one number at the top: how many of the eight students in B2:B9 passed. Fill the Passed count cell D2.
Easy Logic

Unit prices that survive bad data (IFERROR)

An order's unit price is Total divided by Qty — until someone types 0 as the quantity and every division in the report turns into #DIV/0!. Build the safe version in Unit price cell D2: show the normal price when the math works, and the text "Check qty" when the division blows up.
Medium Logic

Audit missing SKUs with ISNA

Before the price report ships, QA wants a simple audit answer for the SKU in E2: is it missing from the price list in A2:A6 or not? Put TRUE (missing) or FALSE (present) in the Missing? cell D2. This is an audit question — you want the TRUE/FALSE itself, not a wrapped-up message.

FAQ

What is the IF formula syntax?

Use =IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false). For example =IF(A2>=60, "Pass", "Fail") returns Pass when A2 is at least 60, otherwise Fail.

How do I write an IF statement in Excel?

Start with the condition, then the two outcomes: =IF(A2>=90, "A", "B"). For more than two results, nest the next IF inside value_if_false, or use the IFS function in modern Excel and Google Sheets.

How do I use IF with AND and OR?

Nest them in the condition: =IF(AND(A2>=60, B2>=60), "Pass", "Fail") requires both tests to pass; replace AND with OR to pass when any single test is TRUE.

How do I check if a cell contains specific text with IF?

Combine ISNUMBER with SEARCH: =IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("urgent", A2)), "Priority", "Normal"). SEARCH is case-insensitive; use FIND for a case-sensitive match.

How do I write IF not blank in Excel?

Compare against an empty string: =IF(A2<>"", "Filled", "Empty"). To test for blank cells directly, use =IF(ISBLANK(A2), "Blank", "Has value").

What's the difference between IF, COUNTIF, and SUMIF?

IF returns one of two values based on a condition; COUNTIF counts cells matching a condition; SUMIF sums values matching a condition. They often work together: COUNTIF/SUMIF for aggregation, IF for per-row decisions.

When should I use nested IF vs IFS?

Nested IF works everywhere. IFS is cleaner for many branches in modern Excel and Google Sheets.

Why does my nested IF return the wrong grade?

Order matters. Put the highest threshold first so earlier true conditions win.