How to use NOT Google Sheets formula?

The syntax for the NOT formula is =NOT(logical_expression), it has 1 required parameter.

NOT

The NOT formula in Google Sheets is a logical function that negates a given logical expression. If the logical expression evaluates to TRUE, the formula returns FALSE, and vice versa. This function is commonly used to reverse the result of a logical test, or to check if a value is not equal to a specific criteria.

How to use NOT formula?
Examples of using NOT formula
NOT formula not working?
Similar formulas to NOT

Usage

Use the NOT formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter:

=NOT(logical_expression)

Parameters:

logical_expression (required):
The logical expression that will be negated. This can be a reference to a cell containing a logical value, or a logical expression such as =A1>5.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the NOT formula in Google Sheets.

Reverse the result of a logical test

You can use the NOT function to reverse the result of a logical test. For example, if you have a test that checks if a value is greater than 10 (=A1>10), you can use NOT(A1>10) to check if the value is not greater than 10.

Check if a value is not equal to a specific criteria

You can use the NOT function to check if a value is not equal to a specific criteria. For example, if you have a list of values in column A and you want to count the number of values that are not equal to "Yes", you can use the formula =COUNTIF(A:A, "<>Yes").

Common Mistakes

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

Missing the logical_expression argument

This error occurs when the logical_expression argument is missing from the NOT formula. The NOT formula requires a logical_expression argument to work properly. Make sure you include a logical_expression argument when using the NOT formula.

Incorrect use of parentheses

This error occurs when parentheses are not used correctly in the logical_expression argument. The NOT formula requires correct use of parentheses to ensure that the logical_expression argument is evaluated correctly. Make sure you use parentheses correctly when using the NOT formula.

Using text instead of logical values

This error occurs when text values are used instead of logical values in the logical_expression argument. The NOT formula requires logical values (TRUE/FALSE) to work properly. Make sure you use logical values when using the NOT formula.

The following functions are similar to NOT or are often used with it in a formula:

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.
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.
COUNTIF
The COUNTIF formula counts the number of cells within a specified range that meet a certain criterion. This formula is commonly used to count cells that meet a specific condition or criteria.

Learn More

You can learn more about the NOT Google Sheets function on Google Support.

NOT