#ERROR! in Google Sheets
What it means: Google Sheets could not parse the formula — its structure is invalid, so it never runs.
Quick fix
=SUM(A2:A100)
Rebuild the formula from scratch, checking every bracket pairs up and separators match your locale.
Why you see #ERROR! — and how to fix each cause
1. Mismatched or missing parentheses
An opening bracket without its closing partner, like =SUM(A2:A100, can't be parsed.
Fix: Count your brackets — each ( needs a matching ). Sheets highlights pairs as you click in the formula.
2. Wrong argument separator for your locale
Some locales expect semicolons (=SUM(A2;A3)) instead of commas. Using the wrong one triggers #ERROR!.
Fix: Match the separator to your spreadsheet locale under File → Settings, or switch commas to semicolons.
=SUM(A2, A3)
3. Stray characters or a text value pasted as a formula
A leading space, a smart-quote, or a currency symbol inside the formula breaks parsing.
Fix: Retype the formula manually; avoid pasting formatted text with curly quotes.
Before and after
| Broken | Working |
|---|---|
=SUM(A2:A100 |
=SUM(A2:A100) |
The missing closing parenthesis is the single most common #ERROR! cause.
How to stop it happening again
Build long formulas step by step and check the bracket highlighting as you go. If you paste formulas from a website, retype the quotes and separators — copied smart-quotes and locale mismatches are the usual culprits.
FAQ
Why does #ERROR! have no explanation?
It's the catch-all parse error. Sheets couldn't understand the formula structure, so it can't say which value went wrong — check brackets and separators.
My formula works for a friend but shows #ERROR! for me. Why?
Different spreadsheet locales use different argument separators (comma vs semicolon). Adjust yours under File → Settings.
→ Google Sheets formulas cheat sheet — 34 copy-paste formulas