IF Function in Google Sheets: Examples for Every Case
How to use IF in Google Sheets: text and number tests, blanks, AND/OR, nested IF and IFS, and applying IF to a whole column with ARRAYFORMULA.
By Ayoub Farid · · 1 min read
IF works the same in Google Sheets as in Excel: test something, return one value if true and another if false.
Syntax
=IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, value_if_false)Examples
=IF(B2>=50,"Pass","Fail")
=IF(C2="Paid","✓","Chase")
=IF(B2="","",B2*1.2)
=IF(B2>C2,B2-C2,0)Several conditions
=IF(AND(B2>=50,C2="Submitted"),"Pass","Fail")
=IF(OR(D2="Late",E2="Missing"),"Review","OK")See AND and OR.
More than two outcomes
=IFS(B2>=90,"A",B2>=80,"B",B2>=70,"C",TRUE,"F")Or nested IF, or SWITCH for exact values. See IFS and nested IF.
A whole column with one formula
Instead of filling down, Sheets can apply IF to every row:
=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(B2:B="","",IF(B2:B>=50,"Pass","Fail")))The outer IF leaves empty rows blank. See ARRAYFORMULA.
Checkboxes
Insert > Checkbox makes cells TRUE/FALSE, perfect for IF:
=IF(A2,"Done","To do")Common mistakes
- Text without quotes →
#NAME? - Numbers in quotes (
">50"inside IF compares text) → writeB2>50 - Wrong order in nested IFs → test the strictest condition first
Full guide: IF function.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write an IF formula in Google Sheets?
=IF(test,"value if true","value if false").
How do I use IF with multiple conditions?
Combine with AND/OR, nest IFs, or use IFS.
How do I apply IF to a whole column?
Wrap it in ARRAYFORMULA with open-ended ranges like B2:B.
Does Google Sheets have IFS?
Yes.