# How to check if a cell is not equal to a value in Excel

Use the not-equal operator <>: =IF(C2<>$G$1,"Chase",""). It is TRUE for every value except the one you name.

**Excel:** `=IF(C2<>$G$1,"Chase","")` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Order | Customer | Status | Note |  | Done status | Delivered |
| SO-5101 | Kim | Delivered |  |  |  |  |
| SO-5102 | Raj | In transit |  |  |  |  |
| SO-5103 | Lee | Delivered |  |  |  |  |
| SO-5104 | Ola | Returned |  |  |  |  |
| SO-5105 | Max | In transit |  |  |  |  |
| SO-5106 | Zoe | Delivered |  |  |  |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D7: `=IF(C2<>$G$1,"Chase","")`

Result: ; Chase; ; Chase; Chase; 

## How it works

`<>` means "not equal to", so `C2<>$G$1` is TRUE for In transit and Returned and FALSE for Delivered. IF turns that into "Chase" or an empty string. The status to skip sits in `G1`, locked with $, so you can change it without editing the formula.

## Other ways

- `=IF(NOT(C2=$G$1),"Chase","")`: NOT flips TRUE and FALSE. Same result; <> is shorter.
- `=IF(C2=$G$1,"","Chase")`: Test for equality and swap the two results.

## Common mistakes

- `!=` is not a spreadsheet operator. Excel and Google Sheets use `<>`.
- `C2<>""` means "is not blank", which is a different test from "is not this value".
- Like =, <> ignores case: "delivered" counts as equal to "Delivered".

## Questions

**How do I check that a cell is none of several values?**

Combine the tests with AND: `=IF(AND(C2<>"Delivered",C2<>"Returned"),"Chase","")`.

**How do I count cells not equal to a value?**

Put the operator in the criteria: `=COUNTIF(C2:C7,"<>"&G1)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/if-cell-is-not-equal-to