In Excel: use =SIGN(number) — it returns 1 for positive, -1 for negative and 0 for zero, reducing any value to its direction.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
number | required | The value to test. Returns 1, 0 or -1. |
Related functions
Select the cell for the direction indicator and type =SIGN(.
Select the value or the difference it comes from, such as B2-A2.
Press Enter; you get 1, 0 or -1.
Feed the result into CHOOSE or an IF to turn it into a label, or multiply by it to transfer a sign.
What this does
SIGN collapses a number to one of three values: 1, 0 or -1. That makes it a compact way to express direction in a formula without a nested IF, and it pairs naturally with ABS, which supplies the magnitude that SIGN discards. In reporting it drives up/down indicators; in modelling it lets you carry a direction through a calculation as a multiplier. Because it returns a number rather than text, the result can be used in further arithmetic — multiplying by SIGN flips or preserves a sign in one step. Keep the inputs visible and clearly labelled and the whole thing stays auditable — anyone who opens the file later, including you, can see at a glance exactly what feeds the result and change one assumption without hunting through the formula. Treat “excel sign function” as a small repeatable workflow rather than a one-off click you hope to remember next time. Use a small test block before the live file, so any surprise in the affected formula shows up while it is still harmless. 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. That turns a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor into a method you can reuse, explain, and defend when the workbook leaves your screen.
A worked example
Turning a variance in C2 into an indicator: =CHOOSE(SIGN(C2)+2, "Down", "Flat", "Up") maps -1, 0 and 1 onto three labels. Applying the direction of one value to the magnitude of another: =SIGN(A2)*ABS(B2). Counting how many months moved backwards: =COUNTIF(D2:D40, -1) over a column of =SIGN() results. SIGN is the shortest way to get direction out of a number, which is what indicator columns and sign-preserving arithmetic both need. 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 sign 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 the original number back — SIGN discards magnitude entirely and keeps only direction.
- Using it on text, which returns
#VALUE!. - Writing a three-branch nested
IFwhere SIGN plus CHOOSE says the same thing in half the length.
Frequently asked questions
What does SIGN return for zero?
Exactly 0 — it is a distinct third case, not grouped with positives.
How do I show an up or down arrow based on a change?
Use SIGN to reduce the change to -1/0/1, then map it with CHOOSE(SIGN(A2)+2, …), or apply an icon-set conditional format directly.
How do SIGN and ABS relate?
They split a number in two: SIGN(A2)*ABS(A2) reconstructs the original value exactly.