IFERROR & NOT functions in Excel – A simple guide with examples

Excel is full of powerful functions, and two of the most useful for handling errors and logical operations are IFERROR and NOT. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up on your skills, this guide will make you comfortable using both!

🧠 What is IFERROR in Excel?

The IFERROR function is used to handle errors in formulas. It allows you to display a custom result or message when an error occurs, instead of showing errors like #DIV/0! or #N/A.

🔹 Syntax:

=IFERROR(value, value_if_error)

• value: The formula or expression you want to check.
• value_if_error: What to show if there’s an error.

✅ Example:

=IFERROR(A2/B2, "Invalid")

If B2 is 0 (which would cause a division error), this formula will show "Invalid"

❗ Common Use Cases for IFERROR:

• Prevent #N/A when using VLOOKUP
• Handle divide-by-zero errors
• Return blanks instead of errors: =IFERROR(A2/B2, "")

🔄 What is NOT in Excel?

The NOT function is a logical function that reverses the value of its argument. If the argument is TRUE, it returns FALSE, and vice versa.

🔹 Syntax:

=NOT(logical)

✅ Example:

=NOT(A2>100)

If A2 is 120, the expression A2>100 is TRUE, so NOT(TRUE) becomes FALSE.

🔄 Combine IFERROR & NOT

You can combine both for smarter logic handling.

✅ Example:

=IFERROR(NOT(A2=""), "Missing")

• If A2 has a value, it returns TRUE.
• If A2 is empty, it returns FALSE.
• If an error occurs, it returns "Missing".

📌 Summary Table:

🏁 Final Tip:

Mastering these two functions can help you:

• Keep your sheets clean and error-free
• Control your logic flows
• Deliver professional-quality Excel work

💡 Pro Tip: Combine IF, IFERROR, and NOT for advanced conditional logic!

Example: