"Wrong Number of Arguments" Error in Google Sheets
What it means: The function was given more or fewer inputs than its definition allows — Google Sheets tells you the range it expected (e.g. "between 2 and 3 arguments").
Quick fix
=IF(A2>10, "High", "Low")
Count the commas: IF takes exactly a condition, a value-if-true and (optionally) a value-if-false. An extra comma or argument triggers the error.
Why you see Wrong number of arguments — and how to fix each cause
1. An extra comma added one argument too many
Writing =SUM(A1, B1,) or =IF(A1>0,"y","n",) leaves a trailing comma that Sheets reads as an empty extra argument.
Fix: Remove the trailing or duplicated comma so the argument count matches what the function expects.
2. Using a comma where your locale expects a semicolon (or vice-versa)
In some locales the argument separator is ; not ,. Mixing them makes Sheets miscount arguments.
Fix: Use the separator your spreadsheet locale expects (File → Settings → Locale), or switch to it consistently.
=IF(A2>10; "High"; "Low")
3. You gave a single-value function a whole range
Functions like LEN or UPPER take one value; passing extra arguments or a range they don't support raises the error.
Fix: Pass a single cell, or wrap with ARRAYFORMULA if you need it to run down a column.
Before and after
| Broken | Working |
|---|---|
=IF(A2>10, "High", "Low",) (trailing comma = 4th argument) |
=IF(A2>10, "High", "Low") |
Delete the trailing comma; IF accepts at most three arguments.
How to stop it happening again
Let the formula autocomplete tooltip guide you: when you type a function name, Sheets shows the exact argument list and highlights the one you're on. Match the commas to that hint and the error disappears.
FAQ
Why does it say "expected between 2 and 3 arguments"?
That function accepts a minimum and maximum number of inputs. You gave a number outside that range — usually one too many because of a stray comma.
Could it be a locale problem?
Yes. If your sheet uses <code>;</code> as the argument separator, typing <code>,</code> makes Sheets split the formula wrong and miscount arguments. Check File → Settings → Locale.
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