Excel IF Function

IF tests a condition and returns one result when the condition is TRUE and another when it is FALSE.

Use it to turn spreadsheet logic into decisions, such as pass or fail, eligible or ineligible, late or on time, or which calculation should run next.

1

Ask a question Build a TRUE/FALSE test

2

Choose the TRUE result Returned when the test passes

3

Choose the FALSE result Returned when the test fails

IF syntax & arguments

Syntax

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, [value_if_false])

Required Optional

1

logical_test
Required

The test Excel evaluates as TRUE or FALSE, such as A2>=70.
2

value_if_true
Required

The result to return when logical_test is TRUE.
3

value_if_false
Optional

The result to return when logical_test is FALSE. If omitted, Excel returns FALSE for a failed test.

Example

=IF(C2>=70, "Pass", "Review")

Return Pass when C2 is at least 70, otherwise return Review.

IF caveats

IF is the foundation of many Excel formulas, but small logic mistakes can make formulas hard to trust.

The test must resolve to TRUE or FALSE

Comparisons such as A2>=70 work because Excel can evaluate them as logical values.
Omitting the false result is rarely clear

If value_if_false is omitted and the test fails, Excel returns FALSE.
Deep nesting gets difficult quickly

Nested IF formulas can be hard to audit. For many branches, consider IFS, SWITCH, lookup tables, or helper columns.

Need multiple tests? Combine IF with AND or OR when one decision depends on several conditions.

Intro IF practice problem

Solve the intro problem directly here, or open it on its own page.

Open full problem

Open intro practice problem

Intro ☆☆☆

Advanced IF practice problems

Use IF alongside other Excel functions in realistic, less-prescriptive challenges.

Budget Status Check

Duplicate Entry Flag

Medium ★★☆

Allow List Validation

NOT COUNTIF IF AND OR EXACT

Medium ★★☆

Allow List Validation II

NOT COUNTIF FIND ISNUMBER IF AND OR

City Target Status

Code Approval Check

EXACT TRIM IF AND

Medium ★★☆

Code Format Validator

FIND IF MID VALUE ISNUMBER

Conditional Label Builder

Medium ★★☆

Document Submission Check

Follow Up Date Code

MINIFS WORKDAY TEXT IF

Group Score Flag

Medium ★★☆

Monthly Deals Quota Check

COUNTIFS IF DATE MONTH YEAR

Promo Eligibility Check

AND IF VLOOKUP XLOOKUP LEFT LEN

Quarterly Sales Metric

AVERAGEIF AVERAGE IF IFERROR

Medium ★★☆

Score Compared To Middle

Shipping Priority Check

OR IF SEARCH ISNUMBER IFERROR

Spend Alert Levels

Student Admission Exams

Student Score Tier

Medium ★★☆

Team Bonus Window

Medium ★★☆

Training Requirements Status

Training Requirements Status II

Medium ★★☆

Update Item Codes

Medium ★★☆

VIP Discount Calculation

SEARCH IFERROR IF