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IFS

The IFS formula evaluates multiple conditions and returns a corresponding value for the first condition that is true. It is commonly used as a more concise alternative to nested IF statements.

Usage

Use the IFS formula with the syntax shown below, it has 2 required parameters:

=IFS(condition1, value1, [condition2, value2], ...)
Parameters:
  1. condition1, condition2, ... (required):
    The conditions to evaluate. Each condition should be a logical expression that returns either TRUE or FALSE.
  2. value1, value2, ... (required):
    The values to return if the corresponding condition is true.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the IFS formula in Google Sheets.

Return a grade based on a score

Use IFS to return a letter grade based on a numerical score. For example, if the score is greater than or equal to 90, return an A; if it is greater than or equal to 80, return a B; and so on.

Categorize expenses

Use IFS to categorize expenses based on their amount. For example, if the expense is less than $50, categorize it as a minor expense; if it is greater than or equal to $50 but less than $100, categorize it as a moderate expense; and so on.

Calculate shipping costs

Use IFS to calculate shipping costs based on the weight of an item and the destination. For example, if the weight is less than 1 pound and the destination is within the United States, the shipping cost is $5; if the weight is between 1 and 5 pounds and the destination is within the United States, the shipping cost is $10; and so on.

Common Mistakes

IFS not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the IFS Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect number of arguments

One of the most common mistakes is to provide an incorrect number of arguments to the IFS formula. Make sure that you provide at least one condition-value pair and that each condition is followed by a corresponding value. Also, note that the maximum number of conditions that can be evaluated is 127.

Condition not met

Another common mistake is to provide conditions that are not met. If none of the conditions are met, the formula will return an error. Double-check your conditions to make sure they are correct and that they cover all possible scenarios.

Incorrect syntax

Make sure that you provide the correct syntax for the IFS formula. The syntax requires that you provide at least one condition-value pair, and that each condition is followed by a corresponding value. Also, make sure that you separate multiple condition-value pairs with a comma.

Nested IFS functions

Avoid using nested IFS functions as they can quickly become complex and difficult to manage. Instead, consider using other logical functions such as IF, AND or OR.

Wrong data type

Make sure that the data type of the conditions and values you provide is correct. For example, the condition must be a logical expression that evaluates to either true or false, and the value can be any data type.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to IFS or are often used with it in a formula:

  • IF

    The IF formula is a logical function used to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if the condition is false. It is commonly used to create conditional statements and perform calculations based on certain conditions.

  • SWITCH

    The SWITCH formula is a logical function in Google Sheets that allows you to evaluate an expression against a list of cases and corresponding values. If the expression matches a case, the formula returns the corresponding value. If there is no match and a default case is specified, the formula returns the value for the default case. This function is commonly used for conditional formatting, data validation, and other tasks that require evaluating multiple conditions.

  • AND

    The AND function in Google Sheets is a logical function that returns TRUE if all of the logical expressions in the argument are TRUE, and FALSE if any of the logical expressions are FALSE. It can be used to test multiple conditions and evaluate whether they are all true or not.

  • OR

    The OR formula is a logical formula that returns TRUE if at least one of the provided logical expressions is TRUE. It returns FALSE if all logical expressions are FALSE. This formula is commonly used in conjunction with other logical formulas, such as AND, to build more complex logical statements.

Learn More

You can learn more about the IFS Google Sheets function on Google Support.