Excel iferror with if

Функция IFERROR (ЕСЛИОШИБКА) в Excel лучше всего подходит для обработки случаев, когда формулы возвращают ошибку. Используя эту функцию, вы можете указать, какое значение функция должна возвращать вместо ошибки. Если функция в ячейке не возвращает ошибку, то возвращается её собственный результат.

Видеоурок

Что возвращает функция

Указанное вами значение, в случае если в ячейке есть ошибка.

Синтаксис

=IFERROR(value, value_if_error) — английская версия

=ЕСЛИОШИБКА(значение;значение_если_ошибка) — русская версия

Аргументы функции

• value (значение) — это аргумент, который проверяет, есть ли в ячейке ошибка. Обычно, ошибкой может быть результат какого либо вычисления;
• value_if_error (значение_если_ошибка) — это аргумент, который заменяет ошибку в ячейке (в случае её наличия) на указанное вами значение. Ошибки могут выглядеть так:  #N/A, #REF!, #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, #NUM!, #NAME?, #NULL! (английская версия Excel) или #ЗНАЧ!, #ДЕЛ/0, #ИМЯ?, #Н/Д, #ССЫЛКА!, #ЧИСЛО!, #ПУСТО! (русская версия Excel).

Дополнительная информация

• Если вы используете кавычки («») в качестве аргумента value_if_error (значение_если_ошибка), ячейка ничего не отображает в случае ошибки.
• Если аргумент value (значение) или value_if_error (значение_если_ошибка) ссылается на пустую ячейку, она рассматривается как пустая.

Примеры использования функции IFERROR (ЕСЛИОШИБКА) в Excel

Пример 1. Заменяем ошибки в ячейке на пустые значения

Если вы используете функции, которые могут возвращать ошибку, вы можете заключить ее в функцию и указать пустое значение, возвращаемое в случае ошибки.

В примере, показанном ниже, результатом ячейки D4 является # DIV/0!.

Для того, чтобы убрать информацию об ошибке в ячейке используйте эту формулу:

=IFERROR(A1/A2,””) — английская версия

=ЕСЛИОШИБКА(A1/A2;»») — русская версия

В данном случае функция проверит, выдает ли формула в ячейке ошибку, и, при её наличии, выдаст пустой результат.

В качестве результата формулы, исправляющей ошибки, вы можете указать любой текст или значение, например, с помощью следующей формулы:

=IFERROR(A1/A2,”Error”) — английская версия

=ЕСЛИОШИБКА(A1/A2;»») — русская версия

Если вы пользуетесь версией Excel 2003 или ниже, вы не найдете функцию IFERROR (ЕСЛИОШИБКА). Вместо нее вы можете использовать обычную функцию IF или ISERROR.

Пример 2. Заменяем значения без данных при использовании функции VLOOKUP (ВПР) на “Не найдено”

Когда мы используем функцию VLOOKUP (ВПР), часто сталкиваемся с тем, что при отсутствии данных по каким либо значениям, формула выдает ошибку “#N/A”.

На примере ниже, мы хотим с помощью функции VLOOKUP (ВПР) для выбранных студентов подставить данные из результатов экзамена.

На примере выше, в списке студентов с результатами экзамена нет данных по имени Иван, в результате, при использовании функции VLOOKUP (ВПР), формула нам выдает ошибку.

Как раз в этом случае мы можем воспользоваться функцией IFERROR (ЕСЛИОШИБКА), для того, чтобы результат вычислений выглядел корректно, без ошибок. Добиться этого мы можем с помощью формулы:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(D2,$A$2:$B$12,2,0),”Не найдено”) — английская версия

=ЕСЛИОШИБКА(ВПР(D2;$A$2:$B$12;2;0);»Не найдено») — русская версия

Пример 3. Возвращаем значение “0” вместо ошибок формулы

Если у вас нет конкретного значения, которое вы бы хотели использовать для замены ошибок — оставляйте аргумент функции value_if_error (значение_если_ошибка) пустым, как показано на примере ниже и в случае наличия ошибки, функция будет выдавать “0”:

Return value 

Usage notes 

=IFERROR(C5/D5,0)

=IFERROR (A1/B1,"Please enter a value in B1")

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(value,data,column,0),"Not found")

IFERROR function provides a great way to handle errors in Excel formulas. Excel IFERROR function returns a custom result (which can be a text, cell reference, or another formula) when the expression enclosed inside it returns an error.

IFERROR helps you catch and address problems with your formulas so you can have clean and orderly spreadsheets. Alternatively, you can use nested IF statements to handle formula errors but nested IF statements are quite challenging to read and reduce the spreadsheets’ maintainability. This is the reason IFERROR function is preferred for handling errors.

Now, let’s see the syntax of the IFERROR function.

Syntax

The syntax of an IFERROR function is as follows:

=IFERROR(value, value_if_error)

'value' – This a required parameter that tells the function what to check for errors. It may be an expression, formula, or cell reference.
'value_if_error' – This is also a required parameter that represents the value returned from the function in case of an error. It may be an empty string, a cell reference blank cell, a line of text, a numeric value, or another formula or expression.

Important Characteristics of the IFERROR function

• The IFERROR function deals with all types of errors. This includes #N/A, #DIV/0, #NAME, #NUM!, #NULL, #VALUE, and #REF.
• IFERROR function is only available in Excel 2007 or higher versions.
• To catch errors in earlier versions of Excel (2003 and below), you’ll have to use the ISERROR function combined with the IF function.
• An empty 'value' parameter will result in an empty string («») instead of an error.
• An empty 'value_if_error' parameter will also be evaluated as an empty string («»), and hence, no message will be displayed if an error is found.
• IFERROR function can be used with array formulas. If an array formula is passed as a value parameter to the IFERROR function, the function returns an array of results for every cell in the specified range.

Types of Formula Errors in Excel

Before going any further, let’s see what all errors can excel formulas throw.

#N/A Error

The #N/A Error stands for Not Available Error. It is thrown when something that you were looking for is not found. Despite its obvious unpleasantness, it is a «useful» error because it tells you something important is missing in your formula.

It may also be triggered by an extra space between characters, wrong spellings, or inconclusive lookup tables. The functions most likely to give you a #N/A error include MATCH, LOOKUP, VLOOKUP, and HLOOKUP.

#DIV/0! Error

The #DIV/0 Error is another type of error often found in Excel. You will find this error every time a number is divided by zero (0) or an empty cell reference. It occurs when you attempt to perform calculations like 10/0.

In many situations, the #DIV/0 error is unavoidable. This is especially true if you prefer to assign formulas before populating your excel worksheets with data. In such situations, you probably don’t want to see an error message at all, and this can be achieved by the IFERROR function.

#VALUE! Error

The #VALUE Error is encountered when you use an incorrect datatype parameter in a formula. It’s Excel’s way of saying there is something wrong with the way you’ve typed your formula. Or that it has identified a problem with the cells you’re attempting to reference.

This error-type is very broad, and it may be hard to determine its exact cause.

Pro tip – While building a formula, you must make sure that the datatypes of all the values involved are compatible. Otherwise, you will encounter this error.

#REF! Error

The #REF! Error, also known as the reference error, is encountered when a reference in a formula has expired. Most commonly, this is the case when a formula points to a cell reference that does not exist (for example, you deleted a row or a column that was being referenced by a formula).

#NAME ERROR

This error commonly occurs as a result of misspelled functions. Unlike word, Excel demands you to type in the exact name of the function you are going to use.

If, for example, you wanted to type HLOOKUP but type HLOKUP instead, you’ll get a #Name error. It means part of your formula needs fixing. Most times, you can avoid it by using the formula wizard.

#NUM ERROR

The #NUM Error occurs when the value you are trying to calculate is beyond Excel’s limits. There are various conditions in which the #NUM Error can occur.

Another scenario that can return a #Num error is when you try to provide a non-numeric value (or any invalid value) to a function argument that only supports numeric values. For example – trying to calculate the square root of a negative number SQRT(-10) will return a #NUM error.

Recommended Reading: Excel ERROR.TYPE Function

Examples of IFERROR Function

Now let’s try to understand the IFERROR function with some examples.

Example 1 – Handling #NA errors in VLOOKUP Function

Let’s assume we have a list of students along with their registration numbers. We try to find the registration number for a student with the name «Glen» out of that list.

For this, we will be writing a VLOOKUP function as –

=VLOOKUP("Glen",A1:B11,2,0)

But since ‘Glen’ doesn’t exist in the student list, so VLOOKUP gives a #N/A error, as shown in the above image.

Now, to replace #N/A with a more meaningful text like «Student Not Found!» we’ll have to use the IFERROR function.

To use the IFERROR function in this case, we will need to use the VLOOKUP function as the first parameter to the IFERROR and text «Student Not Found!» as the second parameter.

The formula should look like this:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP("Glen",A1:B11,2,0),"Student Not Found!")

Example 2 – Handling #VALUE! Or Invalid Parameter Errors

Let’s assume we have a task planner spreadsheet that calculates the days between two dates using the NETWORKDAYS function as shown.

As shown in the image, Task – 4 is an ongoing task and does not have an enddate, and hence the enddate is marked as ‘NA’. But while calculating days, NETWORKDAYS displays a #VALUE! error.

To fix this error, we can wrap our formula inside an IFERROR function and display a suitable message instead of an error.

So, our formula would be:

=IFERROR(NETWORKDAYS(B6,C6), "Ongoing Task")

Example 3 – Handling #DIV/0! Or Divide By Zero Errors

Now let’s suppose we have a weekly sales stats report of a gift store. The report represents total orders generated by each sales manager along with the total sales value.

In the report, we want to calculate the ‘Average Order Value’ generated by each sales manager. For calculating the ‘average order value’, we can use a formula – Total Sales Value / Total Orders.

An excel formula can represent this as:

=C3/B3

As we can see, the report sales manager ‘Donald Perkins’ has made zero sales for the week, and hence this formula results in an error.

The #DIV/0 error really stands out, and it would be embarrassing to have such errors appear in your excel report.

We can use the IFERROR function in such a case and pass our existing formula as the first argument to the function, and the second argument would be a suitable message or an empty string.

So, the final formula would be:

=IFERROR(C3/B3,"")

This will show an empty string in case an error occurs in the inner formula.

Example 4 – Handling Errors In Array Formulas Using IFERROR Function

Array formulas in excel allow you to perform powerful calculations on one or more value sets. Let’s take example 3 and use an array formula to populate ‘Average Order Value’ against each row.

To do this, we will have an array formula that divides each value in the cell range C3:C7 by the appropriate cell within the range B3:B7, and then press ‘control + shift + enter’ keys.

The formula would be:

{=C3:C7/B3:B7}

And as we can see with the array formula, we are again getting a ‘# DIV/0’ error for the D6 cell.

To fix this, we can use the IFERROR function. IFERROR function, when used with an array formula, returns an array of values for each cell in the range provided.

So our final formula would be:

{=IFERROR(C3:C7/B3:B7,"")}

This formula divides each value in the range C3:C7 with an appropriate value from range B3:B7, and then returns an array of results. The IFERROR function captures all the #DIV/0 errors and replaces them with empty strings.

Example 5 – Importance of IFERROR Function in Excel Calculators and Templates

Let’s consider you are building a Monthly Loan Repayment Calculator in Excel, as shown below.

This template works nicely with all the data, but if the user forgets to enter any mandatory value, the formula returns an error.

Errors like this stand out, and it is quite awkward to have such errors in your excel templates.

To fix this, you could wrap your formulas in an IFERORR function and display a more meaningful message to the end-user. For example:

=IFERROR(PMT((B4%/12),B5,B3,0), "Mandatory fields should not be blank!")

IFERROR vs. ISERROR

The ISERROR function is an error-handling alternative for those who are working with Excel 2003 or lower versions. Since the IFERROR function came out with Excel 2007 so before that, for handling formula errors, we used ISERROR Function with Excel IF Statement.

ISERROR function accepts a single argument, which can be an expression, formula, or cell reference. If the supplied argument results in an error, it returns TRUE otherwise, it returns FALSE.

The errors that the ISERROR function checks are as follows:

• #N/A Error
• #VALUE Error
• #REF Error
• #DIV/0! Error
• #NUM! Error
• #NAME? Error
• #NULL! Error

ISERROR Function differs from the IFERROR in the sense that – the ISERROR function returns a Boolean value if there is an error or not. On the other hand, the IFERROR function allows the user to put up a custom and meaningful value or string instead of the error.

Syntax of ISERROR Function

The syntax of the ISERROR function is as follows:

=ISERROR(value)

'value' – This a required parameter that tells the function what to check for errors. It may be an expression, formula, or cell reference.

ISERROR Function Example

Let’s again revisit Example 1 and try to handle the error using the ISERROR function. So, we have a list of students along with their registration numbers. We try to find the registration number for a student with the name «Glen» out of that list.

For this, we will be writing a VLOOKUP function as –

=VLOOKUP("Glen",A1:B11,2,0)

But since ‘Glen’ doesn’t exist in the student list, so VLOOKUP gives a #N/A error, as shown in the above image. In the previous example, we used the IFERROR function to replace the #N/A error with a more meaningful text like «Student Not Found!»

But here, let’s try to use the ISERROR function along with the IF function to achieve the same result. So, the formula would be:

=IF(ISERROR(VLOOKUP("Glen",A2:B11,2,0)),"Student Not Found!", VLOOKUP("Glen",A2:B11,2,0))

NOTE: IFERROR function automatically assumes you will always want the result if your calculations don’t have any errors. ISERROR, on the other hand, gives you either «TRUE» or a «FALSE», and when combined with the IF function, you can have more control over the result in both outcomes.

Recommended Reading: Excel ISERR Function – How to Use

IFERROR vs. IFNA

IFNA Function is another error handling function in Excel. However, the IFNA function only catches #N/A errors and allows us to display more meaningful error messages in case of a #N/A error.

Syntax of IFNA Function

The syntax of IFNA Function is as follows:

=IFNA(value, value_if_na)

'value' – the expression, formula, or reference excel should be checked for errors.

'value_if_na' – represents the value returned from the function in case of an #N/A error. It may be an empty string, a cell reference blank cell, a line of text, a numeric value, or another formula or expression.

IFNA works best with lookup functions such as VLOOKUP, MATCH, HLOOKUP, and LOOKUP.

IFNA Function Example

Let’s try to understand the IFNA function again with Example 1.

So, we have a list of students, and we are trying to fetch details for a student named «Glen» using a VLOOKUP function. However, since «Glen» is not a part of the list, so the VLOOKUP function throws a #N/A error.

To handle such errors, we make use of the IFNA function as –

=IFNA(VLOOKUP("Glen",A2:B11,2,0),"Student Not Found!")

This formula results in a more meaningful text, «Student Not Found!» if no student with the name «Glen» is found in the given range.

Please Note: IFNA Function only handles #N/A errors and does not catch or handle any other errors, as shown in the below screenshot.

In the above image, we can clearly see that the IFNA function misses the #DIV/0! Error and returns the error as it is.

Recommended Reading: ISNA Function In Excel

So this was all about the IFERROR function in excel. We will get back to you with another amazing function. Stay Tuned!

When you work with data and formulas in Excel, you’re bound to encounter errors.

To handle errors, Excel has provided a useful function – the IFERROR function.

Before we get into the mechanics of using the IFERROR function in Excel, let’s first go through the different kinds of errors you can encounter when working with formulas.

Types of Errors in Excel

Knowing the errors in Excel will better equip you to identify the possible reason and the best way to handle these.

Below are the types of errors you might find in Excel.

#N/A Error

This is called the ‘Value Not Available’ error.

You will see this when you use a lookup formula and it can’t find the value (hence Not Available).

Below is an example where I use the VLOOKUP formula to find the price of an item, but it returns an error when it can’t find that item in the table array.

#DIV/0! Error

You’re likely to see this error when a number is divided by 0.

This is called the division error. In the below example, it gives a #DIV/0! error as the quantity value (the divisor in the formula) is 0.

#VALUE! Error

The value error occurs when you use an incorrect data type in a formula.

For example, in the below example, when I try to add cells that have numbers and character A, it gives the value error.

This happens as you can only add numeric values, but instead, I tried adding a number with a text character.

#REF! Error

This is called the reference error and you will see this when the reference in the formula is no longer valid. This could be the case when the formula refers to a cell reference and that cell reference does not exist (happens when you delete a row/column or worksheet that was referred to in the formula).

In the below example, while the original formula was =A2/B2, when I deleted Column B, all the references to it became #REF! and it also gave the #REF! error as the result of the formula.

#NAME ERROR

This error is likely to a result of a misspelled function.

For example, if instead of VLOOKUP, you by mistake use VLOKUP, it will give a name error.

#NUM ERROR

Num error can occur if you try and calculate a very large value in Excel. For example, =187^549 will return a number error.

Another situation where you can get the NUM error is when you give a non-valid number argument to a formula. For example, if you’re calculating the Square Root if a number and you give a negative number as the argument, it will return a number error.

For example, in the case of Square Root function, if you give a negative number as the argument, it will return a number error (as shown below).

While I have shown only a couple of examples here, there can be many other reasons that can lead to errors in Excel. When you get errors in Excel, you can’t just leave it there. If the data is further used in calculations, you need to make sure the errors are handled the right way.

Excel IFERROR function is a great way to handle all types of errors in Excel.

Excel IFERROR Function – An Overview

Using the IFERROR function, you can specify what you want the formula to return instead of the error. If the formula does not return an error, then its own result is returned.

IFERROR Function Syntax

=IFERROR(value, value_if_error)

Input Arguments

• value – this is the argument that is checked for the error. In most cases, it is either a formula or a cell reference.
• value_if_error – this is the value that is returned if there is an error. The following error types evaluated: #N/A, #REF!, #DIV/0!, #VALUE!, #NUM!, #NAME?, and #NULL!.

Additional Notes:

• If you use “” as the value_if_error argument, the cell displays nothing in case of an error.
• If the value or value_if_error argument refers to an empty cell, it is treated as an empty string value by the Excel IFERROR function.
• If the value argument is an array formula, IFERROR will return an array of results for each item in the range specified in value.

Excel IFERROR Function – Examples

Here are three examples of using IFERROR function in Excel.

Example 1 – Return Blank Cell Instead of Error

If you have functions that may return an error, you can wrap it within the IFERROR function and specify blank as the value to return in case of an error.

In the example shown below, the result in D4 is the #DIV/0! error as the divisor is 0.

In this case, you can use the following formula to return blank instead of the ugly DIV error.

=IFERROR(A1/A2,””)

This IFERROR function would check whether the calculation leads to an error. If it does, it simply returns a blank as specified in the formula.

Here, you can also specify any other string or formula to display instead of the blank.

For example, the below formula would return the text “Error”, instead of the blank cell.

=IFERROR(A1/A2,”Error”)

Note: If you are using Excel 2003 or a prior version, you will not find the IFERROR function in it. In such cases, you need to use the combination of IF function and ISERROR function.

Example 2 – Return ‘Not Found’ when VLOOKUP Can’t Find a Value

When you use the Excel VLOOKUP Function, and it can’t find the lookup value in the specified range, it would return the #N/A error.

For example, below is a data set of student names and their marks. I have used the VLOOKUP function to fetch the marks of three students (in D2, D3, and D4).

While the VLOOKUP formula in the above example finds the names of first two students, it can’t find Josh’s name on the list and hence it returns the #N/A error.

Here, we can use the IFERROR function to return a blank or some meaningful text instead of the error.

Below is the formula that will return ‘Not Found’ instead of the error.

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(D2,$A$2:$B$12,2,0),”Not Found”)

Note that you can also use IFNA instead of IFERROR with VLOOKUP. While IFERROR would treat all kinds of error values, IFNA would only work on the #N/A errors and wouldn’t work with other errors.

Example 3 – Return 0 in case of an Error

If you don’t specify the value to return by IFERROR in the case of an error, it would automatically return 0.

For example, if I divide 100 with 0 as shown below, it would return an error.

However, if I use the below IFERROR function, it would return a 0 instead. Note that you still need to use a comma after the first argument.

Example 4 – Using Nested IFERROR with VLOOKUP

Sometimes when using VLOOKUP, you may have to look through the fragmented table of arrays. For example, suppose you have the sales transaction records in 2 separate worksheets and you want to look-up an item number and see it’s value.

Doing this requires using nested IFERROR with VLOOKUP.

Suppose you have a dataset as shown below:

In this case, to find the score for Grace, you need to use the below nested IFERROR formula:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(G3,$A$2:$B$5,2,0),IFERROR(VLOOKUP(G3,$D$2:$E$5,2,0),"Not Found"))

This kind of formula nesting ensure that you get the value from either of the table and any error returned is handled.

Note that in case the tables are on the same worksheet, however, in a real-life example, it likely to be on different worksheets.

Excel IFERROR Function – VIDEO

Related Excel Functions:

• Excel AND Function.
• Excel OR Function.
• Excel NOT Function.
• Excel IF Function.
• Excel IFS Function.
• Excel FALSE Function.
• Excel TRUE Function.

You May Also Like the Following Excel Tutorials:

• Use IFERROR with VLOOKUP to Get Rid of #N/A Errors.
• Identify Errors Using Excel Formula Debugging.