Excel IFERROR function with formula examples

The tutorial shows how to use IFERROR in Excel to catch errors and replace them with a blank cell, another value or a custom message. You will learn how to use the IFERROR function with Vlookup and Index Match, and how it compares to IF ISERROR and IFNA.

"Give me the place to stand, and I shall move the earth," Archimedes once said. "Give me a formula, and I shall make it return an error," an Excel user would say. In this tutorial, we won't be looking at how to return errors in Excel, we'd rather learn how to prevent them in order to keep your worksheets clean and your formulas transparent.

Excel IFERROR function - syntax and basic uses

The IFERROR function in Excel is designed to trap and manage errors in formulas and calculations. More specifically, IFERROR checks a formula, and if it evaluates to an error, returns another value you specify; otherwise, returns the result of the formula.

The syntax of the Excel IFERROR function is as follows:

IFERROR(value, value_if_error)

Where:

  • Value (required) - what to check for errors. It can be a formula, expression, value, or cell reference.
  • Value_if_error (required) - what to return if an error is found. It can be an empty string (blank cell), text message, numeric value, another formula or calculation.

For example, when dividing two columns of numbers, you may get a bunch of different errors if one of the columns contains empty cells, zeros or text.
Errors in Excel calculations

To prevent that from happening, use the IFERROR function to catch and handle errors the way you want.

If error, then blank

Supply an empty string (") to the value_if_error argument to return a blank cell if an error is found:

=IFERROR(A2/B2, "")
If error, return a blank cell.

If error, then show a message

You can also display your own message instead of Excel's standard error notation:

=IFERROR(A2/B2, "Error in calculation")
If error, show a custom message.

5 things you should know about Excel IFERROR function

  1. The IFERROR function in Excel handles all error types including #DIV/0!, #N/A, #NAME?, #NULL!, #NUM!, #REF!, and #VALUE!.
  2. Depending on the contents of the value_if_error argument, IFERROR can replace errors with your custom text message, number, date or logical value, the result of another formula, or an empty string (blank cell).
  3. If the value argument is a blank cell, it is treated as an empty string (''') but not an error.
  4. IFERROR was introduced in Excel 2007 and is available in all subsequent versions of Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, and Excel 365.
  5. To trap errors in Excel 2003 and earlier versions, use the ISERROR function in combination with IF, as shown in this example.

IFERROR formula examples

The following examples show how to use IFERROR in Excel in combination with other functions to accomplish more complex tasks.

Excel IFERROR with Vlookup

One of the most common uses of the IFERROR function is telling the users that the value they are searching for does not exist in the data set. For this, you wrap a VLOOKUP formula in IFERROR like this:

IFERROR(VLOOKUP(…),"Not found")

If the lookup value is not in the table you are looking in, a regular Vlookup formula would return the #N/A error:
Vlookup formula returns the #N/A error.

For your users' piece of mind, wrap VLOOKUP in IFERROR and display a more informative and user-friendly message:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2, 'Lookup table'!$A$2:$B$4, 2,FALSE), "Not found")

The screenshot below shows this Iferror formula in Excel:
Iferror Vlookup formula in Excel

If you'd like to trap only #N/A errors but not all errors, use the IFNA function instead of IFERROR.

For more Excel IFERROR VLOOKUP formula examples, please check out these tutorials:

Nested IFERROR functions to do sequential Vlookups in Excel

In situations when you need to perform multiple Vlookups based on whether the previous Vlookup succeeded or failed, you can nest two or more IFERROR functions one into another.

Supposing you have a number of sales reports from regional branches of your company, and you want to get an amount for a certain order ID. With A2 as the lookup value in the current sheet, and A2:B5 as the lookup range in 3 lookup sheets (Report 1, Report 2 and Report 3), the formula goes as follows:

=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,'Report 1'!A2:B5,2,0),IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,'Report 2'!A2:B5,2,0),IFERROR(VLOOKUP(A2,'Report 3'!A2:B5,2,0),"not found")))

The result will look something similar to this:
Nested IFERROR functions to perform sequential Vlookups

For the detailed explanation of the formula's logic, please see How to do sequential Vlookups in Excel.

IFERROR in array formulas

As you probably know, array formulas in Excel are meant to perform multiple calculations within a single formula. If you supply an array formula or expression that results in an array in the value argument of the IFERROR function, it'd return an array of values for each cell in the specified range. The below example shows the details.

Let's say, you have Total in column B and Price in column C, and you want to calculate Total Quantity. This can be done by using the following array formula, which divides each cell in the range B2:B4 by the corresponding cell of the range C2:C4, and then adds up the results:

=SUM($B$2:$B$4/$C$2:$C$4)

The formula works fine as long as the divisor range does not have zeros or empty cells. If there is at least one 0 value or blank cell, the #DIV/0! error is returned:
A division by zero error

To fix that error, simply do the division within the IFERROR function:

=SUM(IFERROR($B$2:$B$4/$C$2:$C$4,0))

What the formula does is to divide a value in column B by a value in column C in each row (100/2, 200/5 and 0/0) and return the array of results {50; 40; #DIV/0!}. The IFERROR function catches all #DIV/0! errors and replaces them with zeros. And then, the SUM function adds up the values in the resulting array {50; 40; 0} and outputs the final result (50+40=90).
IFERROR in an array formula

Note. Please remember that array formulas should be completed by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Enter shortcut.

IFERROR vs. IF ISERROR

Now that you know how easy it is to use the IFERROR function in Excel, you may wonder why some people still lean towards using the IF ISERROR combination. Does it have any advantages compared to IFERROR? None. In the bad old days of Excel 2003 and lower when IFERROR did not exist, IF ISERROR was the only possible way to trap errors. In Excel 2007 and later, it's just a bit more complex way to achieve the same result.

For instance, to catch Vlookup errors, you can use either of the below formulas.

In Excel 2007 - Excel 2016:

IFERROR(VLOOKUP(…), "Not found")

In all Excel versions:

IF(ISERROR(VLOOKUP(…)), "Not found", VLOOKUP(…))

Notice that in the IF ISERROR VLOOKUP formula, you have to Vlookup twice. In plain English, the formula can be read as follows: If Vlookup results in error, return "Not found", otherwise output the Vlookup result.

And here is a real-life example of an Excel If Iserror Vlookup formula:

=IF(ISERROR(VLOOKUP(D2, A2:B5,2,FALSE)),"Not found", VLOOKUP(D2, A2:B5,2,FALSE ))
IF ISERROR VLOOKUP formula in Excel

For more information, please see Using ISERROR function in Excel.

IFERROR vs. IFNA

Introduced with Excel 2013, IFNA is one more function to check a formula for errors. Its syntax is similar to that of IFERROR:

IFNA(value, value_if_na)

In what way is IFNA different from IFERROR? The IFNA function catches only #N/A errors while IFERROR handles all error types.

In which situations you may want to use IFNA? When it is unwise to disguise all errors. For example, when working with important or sensitive data, you may want to be alerted about possible faults in your data set, and standard Excel error messages with the "#" symbol could be vivid visual indicators.

Let's see how you can make a formula that displays the "Not found" message instead of the N/A error, which appears when the lookup value is not present in the data set, but brings other Excel errors to your attention.

Supposing you want to pull Qty. from the lookup table to the summary table as shown in the screenshot below. Using the Excel Iferror Vlookup formula would produce an aesthetically pleasing result, which is technically incorrect because Lemons do exist in the lookup table:
The IFERROR function catches all errors

To catch #N/A but display the #DIV/0 error, use the IFNA function in Excel 2013 and Excel 2016:

=IFNA(VLOOKUP(F3,$A$3:$D$6,4,FALSE), "Not found")

Or, the IF ISNA combination in Excel 2010 and earlier versions:

=IF(ISNA(VLOOKUP(F3,$A$3:$D$6,4,FALSE)),"Not found", VLOOKUP(F3,$A$3:$D$6,4,FALSE))

The syntax of the IFNA VLOOKUP and IF ISNA VLOOKUP formulas are similar to that of IFERROR VLOOKUP and IF ISERROR VLOOKUP discussed earlier.

As shown in the screenshot below, the Ifna Vlookup formula returns "Not found" only for the item that is not present in the lookup table (Peaches). For Lemons, it shows #DIV/0! indicating that our lookup table contains a divide by zero error:
The IFNA function catches only #N/A errors

For more details, please see Using IFNA function in Excel.

Best practices for using IFERROR in Excel

By now you already know that the IFERROR function is the easiest way to catch errors in Excel and mask them with blank cells, zero values, or custom messages of your own. However, that does not mean you should wrap each and every formula with error handling. The following simple recommendations may help you keep the balance.

  1. Don't trap errors without a reason.
  2. Wrap the smallest possible part of a formula in IFERROR.
  3. To handle only specific errors, use an error handling function with a smaller scope:
    • IFNA or IF ISNA to catch only #N/A errors.
    • ISERR to catch all errors except for #N/A.

This is how you use the IFERROR function in Excel to trap and handle errors. To have a closer look at the formulas discussed in this tutorial, you are welcome to download our sample IFERROR Excel workbook. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week.

85 comments

  1. made latest excel ,
    but its not working older version, need your support

    =IFERROR(IF(B$3>$N5,CONCATENATE(B$4,B$5+$N5,".",SEQUENCE(8,1,0,1)),""),"")

  2. Hello, I will paste my formula below. I am wanting to change the value of #NUM! to blank and am having trouble placing the IFERROR to represent that. Can someone help?

    =IF(INT(B22- B20)>0, INT(B22- B20) & " days, ","") & IF(HOUR(B22- B20)>0, HOUR(B22- B20) & " hours, ","") & IF(MINUTE(B22- B20)>0, MINUTE(B22- B20) & " minutes ","")

    1. Hi! All the necessary instructions on how to use the IFERROR function are in the article above. For example:

      =IFERROR(IF(INT(B22- B20)>0, INT(B22- B20) & " days, ","") & IF(HOUR(B22- B20)>0, HOUR(B22- B20) & " hours, ","") & IF(MINUTE(B22- B20)>0, MINUTE(B22- B20) & " minutes ",""),"")

  3. Hi What does this means?
    =IFERROR(ROUND(AVERAGE(INDIRECT($D6 & $E$4 & F$4):INDIRECT($D6 & $E$4 & F$5)),1),0)

  4. How to use a sum formula after using lookup in iferror formula?

  5. I have a simple IFERROR formula to calculate a variance% between actuals and budget. Currently, the variance% is showing as a negative value despite actuals outperforming budget.

    Example:
    Net Income: ($20,000)
    Budgeted Net Income: ($30,000)
    Variance: +$10,000
    Variance%: -33%

    *Current formula: =IFERROR(Variance/Budget,"-") results in a negative %. How can I get this to calculate the variance% to be determined by the positive value of the variance amount instead of the mathematical result?

    1. Hi! Your formula and the data you wrote cannot give a negative percent result. 10000/30000=33%. However, you can always apply the ABS function to use the absolute value of the variance.

      1. If I use the ABS function, it will always return a positive result. Correct? I want it to return a negative result when applicable.

          1. No, I want the sign of the variance% to be determined by the variance amount. If the variance amount is a positive number, I want the variance% to be positive. If the variance amount is negative, I want the variance% to be negative.

            1. In the article I recommended to you, read the paragraph - How to calculate percent difference in Excel.

  6. Hi all, I am looking for a MATCH formula for the following.
    SHEET 1: I type a Home# (example Home-1) in column A and a stage (example DRYWALL) in Column B.

    Sheet 2: I type a home number again is Column A I would like column B to pull automatically from Sheet one Column B. But it has to match that specific home number.

    Reference, I have multiple homes and throughout multiple spreadsheets I update the specific home #’s stage and would like to just update it on sheet 1 and it auto pull onto multiple different sheets.

  7. Hi all,

    Does anyone know a formula so it can highlight if a date has changed? I have 2 columns of dates which have hundreds of rows completed and I need a formula to highlight if one of the dates have changed from one column to another. I can then drag this down the rows. My end goal is to give a percentage of dates that have changed

      1. I cannot tell you how helpful this has been. Thank you very much :-)

  8. Hi!
    I am comparing the values in two different columns. If the value from column B exists in column A, I want it to say "OLD", but if the value in column B does not exist in column A, I want it to say "NEW". I got it to say "NEW", but for "OLD, it's returning the same name again. How can I customize this second part?

    =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C2,$A$2:$A$1000,1,FALSE),"NEW")

    Thank you

    1. Hi! Use the IF function to get "OLD" if VLOOKUP returns a cell value, and get "NEW" if VLOOKUP returns an error.

      =IF(ISERROR(VLOOKUP(C2,$A$2:$A$1000,1,FALSE)),"NEW","OLD")

  9. Hi, how to minimize the below formula without changing the result? Thanks.

    =IFERROR(IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"Y")=0,"",IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"Y")>1,DATEDIF(A2,D2,"Y")&" YEARS ",DATEDIF(A2,D2,"Y")&" YEAR "))&IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"YM")=0,"",IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"YM")>1,DATEDIF(A2,D2,"YM")&" MONTHS ",DATEDIF(A2,D2,"YM")&" MONTH "))&IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"MD")=0,"",IF(DATEDIF(A2,D2,"MD")>1,DATEDIF(A2,D2,"MD")&" DAYS ",DATEDIF(A2,D2,"MD")&" DAY ")),"")

  10. Hi.

    I want to ask. How am I supposed to add my arguments, when some of the search that I stated, I wanted it to return to be zero.

    =RIGHT(C4,LEN(C4)-(MIN(IFERROR(SEARCH("MXM",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX7",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX7",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX1",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX2",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX4",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX3",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("DX",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX5",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MX6",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MXB",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH(" AL",C4),9^99)+1,IFERROR(SEARCH("ARM",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH(" ARM",C4),9^99)+1,IFERROR(SEARCH(" AR",C4),9^99)+1,IFERROR(SEARCH("BP",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH("MXC",C4),9^99),IFERROR(SEARCH(" SF",C4),9^99)+1)-2)-1)

    This is the right length of the arguments.
    Please recognize my formula?

    1. Hi! It is very difficult to understand a formula that contains unique references to your workbook worksheets. I can't understand what you want to do.

  11. i have courier name, weight, mode and zone in horizontal formate & i want find exact rate.

    Courier Mode Type Bill Weight A B C1 D1 E F
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO First 0.500gm 33 38 61 76 87 93
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO Add 0.500gm 32 37 60 75 86 92
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 0.501- to 1 Kg 65 75 121 151 173 185
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 1- to 1.5 Kg 97 112 181 226 259 277
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 1.5 to 2 kg 129 149 241 301 345 369
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 2 to 2.5 kg 161 186 301 376 431 461
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 2.5 to 3 kg 193 223 361 451 517 553
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 3 to 3.5 kg 225 260 421 526 603 645
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 3.5 to 4 kg 257 297 481 601 689 737
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 4 to 4.5 kg 289 334 541 676 775 829
    Delhivery Air Forward & RTO 4.5 to 5 kg 321 371 601 751 861 921
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO First 0.500gm 41 46 54 60 75
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO add 500gm 41 46 54 60 75
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 0.501- to 1 Kg 82 92 108 120 150
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 1- to 1.5 Kg 123 138 162 180 225
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 1.5 to 2 kg 164 184 216 240 300
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 2 to 2.5 kg 205 230 270 300 375
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 2.5 to 3 kg 246 276 324 360 450
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 3 to 3.5 kg 287 322 378 420 525
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 3.5 to 4 kg 328 368 432 480 600
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 4 to 4.5 kg 344 384 448 496 616
    XpressBees Air Forward & RTO 4.5 to 5 kg 360 400 464 512 632
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO First 0.500gm 42 48 49 53 79
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO add 500gm 42 48 49 53 79
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 0.501- to 1 Kg 84 96 98 106 158
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 1- to 1.5 Kg 126 144 147 159 237
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 1.5 to 2 kg 168 192 196 212 316
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 2 to 2.5 kg 210 240 245 265 395
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 2.5 to 3 kg 252 288 294 318 474
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 3 to 3.5 kg 294 336 343 371 553
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 3.5 to 4 kg 336 384 392 424 632
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 4 to 4.5 kg 378 432 441 477 711
    Bluedart Air Forward & RTO 4.5 to 5 kg 420 480 490 530 790

  12. Hi, I'm working on a time-sheet of sorts with a 24 hour format. Typical in-times will be 18:00 and out-times will be 6:00. I'm using the following formula to calculate the total hours worked:
    In time Out Time Total Hours
    18:00 6:00 =IF((F26-E26)>0,F26-E26,IF((F26-E26)<0,-(F26-E26),IF((F26-E26=0),0)))
    However, if the person is on leave, we will write text on the in-time cell resulting in a #VALUE! error for the total hours worked. I would like to have a zero replace the error value. What do you recommend? Thank you for any help with this!

  13. I need a formula for this situation, i have many cells fill with same data but when i change data in any cell then i want those changes with cell reference in my reporting cell
    for example
    cell A1 sunday cell B1 sunday cell C1 sunday cell D1 sunday cell E1 sunday cell F1 sunday but if i change Cell E1 monday
    then my reporting cell A2 may be show "E1 Monday" otherwise reporting cell A2 may shows "no changes"

    sir please help me to create this formula

    thank you

    1. Hi!
      Excel formula cannot detect a change in a value in a cell. An Excel formula can compare a value in a cell to a predefined number or text string. You can use the IF function to show the result of a value comparison.

  14. ANY CALCULATION IFERROR THAN I WANT USE TOP ROW VALUE.
    FORMULA PLZ

  15. I have the following formula:
    =IFERROR(@INDEX('Data Sheet'!$BB$2:$BD$2,1,COUNTIF('Data Sheet'!$BB$2:$BD$6,B32))," ")

    of which I only need it to be actioned if the outcome of that same formula is not equal to a certain value.. How can i do that?

  16. 1
    200988 200988 200988 200988 200988 200988 200988 200988 201026 201026
    200988 201026 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9
    Attendance Attendance Date Day Shedule Occation Timings Duty Timings SHIFT In Time Out Time Attendance Attendance AB

    21-01-2017 21-01-2017 Saturday GH GH 0.00 0.00 0.00
    22-01-2017 Sunday GH GH 0.00 0.00 0.00
    23-01-2017 Monday WD WD 6.00 15.30 9.30 IS 5.54 15.42 P+T P+T
    24-01-2017 Tuesday WD WD 8.00 17.30 9.30 GS 8.53 17.31 P NO AB
    25-01-2017 Wednesday WD WD 6.00 15.30 9.30 IS 6.04 15.31 P P+T
    26-01-2017 Thursday WD WD 8.00 17.30 9.30 GS 8.33 9.01 L NO AB
    27-01-2017 Friday WD WD 6.00 15.30 9.30 IS 5.57 15.30 P+T NO AB
    28-01-2017 Saturday GH GH 0.00 0.00 0.00
    29-01-2017 Sunday GH GH 0.00 0.00 0.00
    30-01-2017 Monday WD WD 13.30 23.00 9.30 IIS 13.53 23.59 P+T P+T
    31-01-2017 Tuesday WD WD 13.30 23.00 9.30 IIS 13.51 23.59 P+T P+T
    How to get "O6" in B6 with reference A6,B3,B4,/"P6" in C6 with reference A6,C3,C4, Select all And Past in the Cell-A1,it is copied from Excel Page Thanking You

  17. Hi,

    I have a COUNTIF function followed by a divide in cell X
    If that data is not there to calculate, it returns #DIV/0! to cell X, as it cannot divide by zero.
    I want to add an IFERROR function, so that if it does equal #DIV/0! then it returns blank.

    How do I do this please? I have added the actual formula blow if that helps.

    =countif(B5:L5,"Y")/M5 (need to add the IFERROR, return blank to this)

  18. Hello, I need help with these formula, I need to create a word, 1 lower first letter from B3, 1 lower first letter from C3, and 4 numbers from right of A3. I used this formula, but it does not work. Thank you!

    =IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",B3)),LOWER(LEFT,1)),CONCATENATE(LOWER(LEFT(B3,1)),(FIND(" ",B3)+1),1)),IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",C3)),LOWER(LEFT(C3,1)),CONCATENATE(LOWER(LEFT(C3,1)),(FIND(" ",C3)+1),1)),IF(ISERROR(FIND(" ",A3)),LOWER(RIGHT(A3,4)),CONCATENATE(LOWER(RIGHT(3,4)),(FIND(" ",A3)+1),1))

  19. Hello, i have a worksheet which has a formula referencing to calculating a discounted price, =F9*(1-H9). I have rows that do not have any price or % present resulting in my calucation giving me the #VALUE! error when i drag the formula down. is there any way i can use the IFERROR? i have tried a few different ways but i cannot get it to work. I do not want to hide as there are totals at the end of the rows which also give the same error. thanks for any help

    1. Hello!
      Instructions and examples of using IFERROR can be found in this article above.
      For example,

      =IFERROR(F9*(1-H9),0)

  20. Very beautifully explained. I have got a complete grip on the formula now. Thanks for sharing the information and keep up the good work.

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