In Excel: use =IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false) — it tests a condition and returns one value when the test is TRUE and another when it is FALSE.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
logical_test | required | A condition that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE, such as A2>100. |
value_if_true | required | What the formula returns when the condition is TRUE. |
value_if_false | optional | What the formula returns when the condition is FALSE; optional but strongly recommended. |
Related functions
In the result cell type =IF( and write the condition, for example B2>=60.
Type a comma, then the value to return when the condition is TRUE, putting text in quotes.
Type another comma, then the value to return when the condition is FALSE.
Close the bracket and press Enter; for many cases, nest another IF inside the false slot.
Fill the formula down the column.
What this does
IF is the core logical function in Excel: it checks a condition you write, then returns one result if the condition is TRUE and a different result if it is FALSE. You can return text, numbers, or other formulas, nest IFs to handle several cases, and combine IF with AND or OR to test more than one condition at once. It turns a sheet from static data into something that reacts to its values. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “excel if function with dates”. 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 workflow that saves repeating the same clicks every week, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
Scores are in column B. In C2, =IF(B2>=60, "Pass", "Fail") returns "Pass" when B2 is 75 and "Fail" when B2 is 48. To grade with several bands, nest IFs: =IF(B2>=90, "A", IF(B2>=80, "B", IF(B2>=70, "C", "F"))). To require two conditions, combine with AND: =IF(AND(B2>=60, D2="yes"), "Eligible", "No"). IF is the foundation of decision logic in Excel; almost every report that flags, grades, or branches on its data is built on it. 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
The standard worksheet functions used by this example are listed in Google Sheets. Check the cell references, argument separators and input types in the target spreadsheet, then compare the worked result. This formula-availability check does not establish identical menus, keyboard shortcuts or workbook features, and it is not a product execution test. 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 if function with dates”, 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
- Omitting value_if_false, so the formula returns the unhelpful word FALSE instead of a result — use "" for a blank or supply a real value.
- Forgetting quotes around text results, which makes Excel treat the words as undefined names and throw
#NAME?. - Stacking five or more nested IFs that become unreadable — switch to
IFSor a lookup table instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I nest IF statements?
Put another IF in the value_if_false slot: =IF(B2>=90, "A", IF(B2>=80, "B", "C")). Each IF handles the next band. Beyond a few levels, IFS is cleaner and easier to read.
How do I use IF with two conditions?
Wrap the conditions in AND for "both must be true" or OR for "either", for example =IF(AND(B2>0, C2>0), "OK", "Check"). AND and OR each return a single TRUE or FALSE for IF to act on.
Is there a simpler alternative to many nested IFs?
Yes — IFS lets you list condition/result pairs without nesting: =IFS(B2>=90,"A", B2>=80,"B", B2>=70,"C", TRUE,"F"). It is available in Excel 2019 and Microsoft 365.
Other ways people ask this
This is also commonly searched as “excel date functions on mac”, “if function in excel for dates”, “excel date if function” and “excel if function using dates”. They describe the identical operation, so you are in the right place no matter how you phrased it.
Why do people search for this in so many different ways?
Because the same task has many names. “excel date functions on mac”, “if function in excel for dates”, “excel date if function” all point at the one operation explained on this page, which is why they all lead here.