IF Function in Google Sheets
Use IF to return one thing when a condition is true and another when it is false — flag overdue rows, label pass/fail, or leave a cell blank.
=IF(A2>100, "High", "Low")
If A2 is greater than 100 it shows "High", otherwise "Low". Text results go in quotes.
How it works
IF takes three parts: a logical test, the value to return if it is true, and the value if it is false. The test can use comparison operators (=, >, <, >=, <>) or any function that returns TRUE/FALSE. Nest more IFs in the false slot to test several cases, or use IFS for cleaner multi-condition logic.
Variations
Blank if the cell is empty
=IF(A2="", "", A2*1.2)
Returns an empty string when A2 is empty instead of an error or 0.
Two conditions must both hold (AND)
=IF(AND(A2>100, B2="Paid"), "OK", "Review")
AND is true only when every condition inside is true.
Either condition is enough (OR)
=IF(OR(A2="VIP", B2>1000), "Priority", "Normal")
OR is true when at least one condition is true.
Nested IF for three outcomes
=IF(A2>=90, "A", IF(A2>=80, "B", "C"))
Checks the next condition only when the previous one is false.
Examples
| Scenario | Formula |
|---|---|
| Pass/fail on a score | =IF(A2>=60, "Pass", "Fail") |
| Flag overdue by date | =IF(A2<TODAY(), "Overdue", "") |
| Discount only over a threshold | =IF(A2>500, A2*0.9, A2) |
FAQ
What is the difference between IF and IFS?
IF handles one true/false test with two outcomes. IFS lets you list many conditions and results without nesting IFs inside each other.
How do I check two conditions in one IF?
Wrap them in AND(...) when both must be true, or OR(...) when any one is enough: =IF(AND(A2>0, B2>0), "yes", "no").
How do I return a blank cell from IF?
Return an empty string with two quotes: =IF(condition, "", value).