Why does my IF formula return FALSE?
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus","")The third argument is missing, so IF returns FALSE when the test fails. Give it one: =IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus","").
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
IF has three parts: the test, the result when it is TRUE and the result when it is FALSE. Leave out the third and IF returns the word FALSE for every row that fails the test, as for Ben and Eli. Giving it "" (empty text) shows a blank instead.
=IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus","")Result"Bonus"
B2$62,000The value in B2.
$F$1$50,000The value in F1.
B2>=$F$1TRUEThe >= operator tests at least.
IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus","")"Bonus"IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.- logical_test
B2>=$F$1TRUE - value_if_true
"Bonus" - value_if_false
""not used
- logical_test
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus",""). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =IF(B2<$F$1,"","Bonus") | Bonus, , Bonus… | Testing the other way round puts the blank first. |
| =IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus") | Bonus, FALSE, Bonus…Different result | Without the third argument. Ben and Eli show FALSE. |
Common mistakes
- A trailing comma with nothing after it,
=IF(B2>=$F$1,"Bonus",), returns 0 instead of FALSE. Write "" explicitly. - An IF that shows TRUE or FALSE where you expected a value usually has a missing or misplaced argument. Check the commas.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Why does my IF formula return FALSE
C2, show "Bonus" when sales reach the target in F1 and a blank, not FALSE, otherwise. Fill down to C6.Questions
How do I return 0 instead of a blank?
Put 0 as the third argument: =IF(B2>=$F$1,500,0).
Why does my nested IF show FALSE?
One of the inner IFs has no FALSE result. Every IF needs both.
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.