Excel Functions

Reference guides for every Excel function: syntax, arguments, examples, and common errors.

Showing 88 of 88 functions

Function Name	Category	Short Description
AND	Logical	AND tests multiple conditions and returns TRUE only if every one is true, FALSE if any condition fails.
AVERAGEIF	Statistical	AVERAGEIF averages the cells in a range that meet one condition, returning a single number or a #DIV/0! error if nothing matches.
AVERAGEIFS	Statistical	AVERAGEIFS averages cells in a range that meet two or more conditions, using AND logic across every criteria pair.
CHAR	Text	CHAR converts a numeric code into the character it represents, like a line break or a quotation mark.
CLEAN	Text	CLEAN strips non-printable characters from text in Excel. See syntax, examples, and how to pair it with TRIM for messy imported data.
CODE	Text	CODE returns the numeric ANSI code for a text string's first character. Covers syntax, examples, and how it compares to UNICODE.
CONCATENATE	Text	CONCATENATE joins multiple text values into one string. It's replaced by TEXTJOIN and CONCAT in Excel 365 and 2021.
COUNT	Statistical	COUNT counts how many cells in a range contain a number, ignoring text, blanks, and errors.
COUNTA	Statistical	COUNTA counts every cell in a range that holds any value, including text, numbers, dates, and errors, but not truly blank cells.
COUNTBLANK	Statistical	COUNTBLANK counts empty cells in a range, including cells with formulas that return an empty string.
COUNTIF	Statistical	How to use COUNTIF in Excel to count cells that meet a condition. Covers syntax, wildcards, common mistakes, and when to switch to COUNTIFS.
COUNTIFS	Statistical	COUNTIFS counts cells that meet multiple conditions across one or more ranges, returning a single number.
DATE	Date & Time	DATE combines a year, month, and day number into one valid Excel date for use in formulas.
DATEDIF	Date & Time	DATEDIF calculates the difference between two dates in years, months, or days, based on a unit code you choose.
DATEVALUE	Date & Time	DATEVALUE converts a date stored as text into a serial number Excel can use in date calculations.
DAY	Date & Time	DAY extracts the day of the month, a number from 1 to 31, from any Excel date.
DAYS	Date & Time	DAYS returns the number of whole days between two dates in Excel, ready to use in a formula.
DOLLAR	Text	DOLLAR converts a number into text formatted as currency, rounded to the decimal places you specify.
EDATE	Date & Time	EDATE returns the date a set number of months before or after a given start date.
EOMONTH	Date & Time	EOMONTH returns the last day of the month, a set number of months before or after a date you specify.
EXACT	Text	EXACT compares two text strings and returns TRUE only if they match exactly, including letter case.
FILTER	Dynamic Array	FILTER extracts rows or columns from a range that meet criteria you set, returning a dynamic array that spills onto the sheet.
FIND	Text	FIND returns the position of a character or substring within a text string, using case-sensitive exact matching.
FIXED	Text	FIXED converts a number to text with a set number of decimals, so you can drop formatted numbers straight into a sentence.
HLOOKUP	Lookup & Reference	HLOOKUP searches the first row of a table for a value and returns data from a row below it. Replaced by XLOOKUP in Excel 365 and 2021.
HOUR	Date & Time	HOUR extracts the hour from a time value in Excel, returning a whole number from 0 to 23.
HYPERLINK	Lookup & Reference	HYPERLINK creates a clickable link in a cell that jumps to a file, webpage, or another cell.
IF	Logical	How to use IF in Excel to test a condition and return different values based on true or false. Covers syntax, nested IFs, and errors.
IFERROR	Logical	IFERROR returns a custom result when a formula errors, and the normal result when it doesn't. Here's the syntax, examples, and the gotcha that trips up most people.
IFS	Logical	IFS tests multiple conditions in order and returns the value tied to the first one that's true, replacing nested IF chains.
INDEX	Lookup & Reference	INDEX returns the value or reference at a specific row and column position within a range or array.
INDIRECT	Lookup & Reference	INDIRECT converts a text string into a valid cell reference, letting you build references to cells, sheets, and ranges dynamically.
ISBLANK	Information	ISBLANK checks whether a cell is truly empty and returns TRUE or FALSE, with no partial matches.
ISNUMBER	Information	ISNUMBER checks whether a value is a number and returns TRUE or FALSE. No errors, ever.
LAMBDA	Logical	LAMBDA lets you build custom, reusable Excel functions using a formula, no VBA required.
LEFT	Text	LEFT extracts a set number of characters from the start of a text string in Excel, returning them as text.
LEN	Text	LEN counts every character in a text string or cell and returns that count as a number.
LET	Logical	LET assigns names to values or calculations inside a formula, so you can reference them by name instead of repeating them.
LOWER	Text	LOWER converts text to all lowercase letters and returns a new text string, useful for standardizing names, emails, and codes.
MATCH	Lookup & Reference	MATCH finds a value's position in a range and returns that position as a number, not the value itself.
MAX	Statistical	MAX returns the largest number in a range or list, ignoring blank cells and text automatically.
MID	Text	MID extracts a specific number of characters from the middle of a text string, starting at whatever position you specify.
MINUTE	Date & Time	MINUTE extracts the minute component from a time value in Excel, returning a whole number between 0 and 59.
MOD	Math & Trig	MOD returns the remainder after dividing one number by another, and it's the go-to formula for spotting patterns like odd/even rows or repeating cycles.
MONTH	Date & Time	MONTH extracts the month number (1-12) from any date, ignoring the day and year. Covers syntax, month names, EOMONTH, and errors.
NETWORKDAYS	Date & Time	NETWORKDAYS counts the working days between two dates, excluding weekends and any holidays you specify.
NOW	Date & Time	NOW returns the current date and time as a live value that updates whenever the workbook recalculates.
NUMBERVALUE	Text	NUMBERVALUE converts text that represents a number, using any decimal or thousands separator, into a real numeric value.
OFFSET	Lookup & Reference	OFFSET returns a reference to a range that's shifted a set number of rows and columns from a starting cell.
OR	Logical	OR tests multiple conditions and returns TRUE if any one of them is true, FALSE only if they're all false.
PMT	Financial	PMT calculates the periodic payment for a loan or investment with a constant rate and constant payments.
PROPER	Text	PROPER capitalizes the first letter of each word in a text string and converts the rest of each word to lowercase.
RAND and RANDBETWEEN	Math & Trig	RAND returns a random decimal between 0 and 1. RANDBETWEEN returns a random integer between two numbers you specify.
RANK	Statistical	RANK returns a number's position within a list of numbers, but Excel 365 replaces it with RANK.EQ and RANK.AVG.
REPLACE	Text	REPLACE swaps a set number of characters in a text string starting at a chosen position, and always returns the result as text.
REPT	Text	REPT repeats a text string a set number of times, useful for padding numbers, star ratings, and in-cell charts.
RIGHT	Text	RIGHT extracts a set number of characters from the end of a text string, returning them as text.
ROUND	Math & Trig	ROUND rounds a number to a specified number of decimal places, changing the actual stored value, not just its display.
ROUNDUP	Math & Trig	ROUNDUP rounds a number up, away from zero, to a number of decimal places you choose.
SEARCH	Text	SEARCH finds where one text string starts inside another, ignoring case, and supports wildcards. Syntax, examples, and errors explained.
SECOND	Date & Time	SECOND extracts the seconds component from a time value, returning a number between 0 and 59.
SEQUENCE	Dynamic Array	SEQUENCE generates a list of sequential numbers across rows, columns, or both, in a single spilling formula.
SORT	Dynamic Array	SORT arranges a range or array in ascending or descending order and spills the sorted result onto the sheet automatically.
SUBSTITUTE	Text	SUBSTITUTE replaces specific text inside a string with new text you specify, matching by content instead of position.
SUBTOTAL	Math & Trig	SUBTOTAL calculates a sum, average, count, or other statistic for a range while excluding filtered-out rows.
SUMIF	Math & Trig	How to use SUMIF in Excel to add up values that meet one condition. Covers syntax, examples, common errors, and when to use SUMIFS instead.
SUMIFS	Math & Trig	Learn how to use SUMIFS in Excel to sum values that meet multiple criteria. Covers syntax, examples, common errors, and SUMIF comparison.
SUMPRODUCT	Math & Trig	SUMPRODUCT multiplies corresponding array elements, then sums the results, making it Excel's most flexible multi-criteria formula.
SWITCH	Logical	SWITCH compares one value against a list of options and returns the result tied to the first match, with an optional default.
TEXT	Text	TEXT converts a number, date, or time into a formatted text string using a format code you specify.
TEXTJOIN	Text	TEXTJOIN combines text from multiple cells into one string, joined by a delimiter you choose, with an option to skip blanks.
TEXTSPLIT	Text	TEXTSPLIT splits text into separate columns or rows using a delimiter you choose, replacing manual Text to Columns work.
TIME	Date & Time	TIME builds a valid Excel time from hour, minute, and second values, returning a decimal Excel can calculate and format as a clock time.
TIMEVALUE	Date & Time	TIMEVALUE converts a time stored as text into a real Excel time serial number you can calculate with.
TODAY	Date & Time	TODAY returns the current date in Excel and updates automatically whenever the workbook opens or recalculates.
TRIM	Text	TRIM removes extra spaces from text, leaving single spaces between words and no leading or trailing spaces.
UNIQUE	Dynamic Array	UNIQUE extracts a list of distinct values from a range or array, automatically removing duplicates.
UPPER	Text	UPPER converts text to all uppercase letters in Excel. See syntax, examples, and what happens when you feed it numbers or dates.
VALUE	Text	VALUE converts text that looks like a number, date, or time into a real number Excel can calculate with.
VLOOKUP	Lookup & Reference	How to use VLOOKUP in Excel to search a table and return matching values. Covers syntax, examples, common errors, and when to switch to XLOOKUP.
VSTACK	Dynamic Array	VSTACK combines multiple ranges or arrays into one vertical array, stacking rows on top of each other.
WEEKDAY	Date & Time	WEEKDAY returns a number from 1 to 7 showing which day of the week a date falls on, based on a return_type you set.
WEEKNUM	Date & Time	WEEKNUM returns which week of the year a date falls in, based on a numbering system you choose.
WORKDAY	Date & Time	WORKDAY returns a date that falls a set number of working days before or after a start date, skipping weekends and holidays.
XLOOKUP	Lookup & Reference	How to use XLOOKUP in Excel to look up values in any direction, return whole arrays, and handle missing results without helper functions.
YEAR	Date & Time	YEAR extracts the four-digit year from a date in Excel. Covers syntax, examples, errors, and leap year gotchas.
INDEX and MATCH	Lookup & Reference	How to use INDEX and MATCH together for two-dimensional lookups in Excel, and why the combination beats VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP.
VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP	Lookup & Reference	How to use VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP for data matching in Excel, including syntax, examples, and their limitations.