In Excel: use =MOD(number, divisor) — it returns the remainder after division, so =MOD(17, 5) returns 2.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
number | required | The value to divide. |
divisor | required | What to divide by. Zero returns #DIV/0!. |
Related functions
Select the cell for the remainder and type =MOD(.
Select the total, type a comma, then enter the divisor.
Press Enter. Pair it with =INT(total/divisor) to get the whole-unit half of the same split.
For row banding, use it inside a conditional-formatting formula rule rather than in a cell.
What this does
MOD returns what is left after dividing. Two uses dominate in practice: extracting a remainder alongside INT (minutes left over after whole hours, items left over after full boxes), and testing for a repeating pattern. =MOD(ROW(), 2)=0 is true on every even row, which is the standard conditional-formatting rule for banding a table. Its result takes the sign of the divisor, not the dividend, which surprises people coming from other languages: =MOD(-1, 3) returns 2 in Excel. A divisor of zero returns #DIV/0!. The same idea underpins a lot of everyday Excel work, so the few minutes spent getting it right here pay back across every sheet you build afterwards. Treat it as a pattern, not a one-off, and it stops being something you look up and starts being something you reach for. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “excel mod function”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected formula visible, and compare the result with the outcome you expected before you touch the real workbook. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. The point is a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
After =INT(197/60) gives 3 whole hours, =MOD(197, 60) returns the leftover 17 minutes. To shade every third row, apply a conditional-formatting rule of =MOD(ROW(),3)=0. To test whether a quantity divides evenly into cases of 12, =MOD(A2,12)=0 returns TRUE only when there is no partial case. MOD is the one function that answers both "what is left over" and "is this the nth item", which covers remainders, cycles and every alternating-format rule. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.
In Google Sheets
Google Sheets support for this task has not been verified. Check the function, arguments and workflow in the target product before transferring the example. Matching formula notation does not establish identical behaviour. Nothing on this page is behind a login or a download: the exact answer is at the top, and the detail below it is there for when you need it. That is the whole promise here — the answer first, and just enough context to make it stick. For “excel mod function”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.
Common mistakes
- Expecting a negative result from a negative dividend — MOD takes the sign of the divisor, so
=MOD(-1, 3)is 2, not -1. - A divisor of 0, which returns
#DIV/0!. - Using MOD for banded row colours on a real Excel Table, where the built-in banded-rows style already does it and survives sorting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the remainder of a division?
=MOD(A2, B2) returns what is left over. =QUOTIENT(A2, B2) returns the whole-number part of the same division.
How do I highlight every other row?
Add a conditional-formatting rule with the formula =MOD(ROW(),2)=0 and set a fill. On an Excel Table, prefer the built-in banded-row style.
Why is MOD(-1, 3) equal to 2?
Excel's MOD follows the divisor's sign, so the result is always between zero and the divisor. Many programming languages instead follow the dividend and would return -1.