Spreadsheet Practice

How to set a status based on start and end dates in Excel

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started"))

Check the last stage first: =IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started")).

Result on the example
one result per row in D2, filled down to D6
Works in
Every current version
Google Sheets
Same formula

See it work

The formula is already in D2, filled down to D6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

The finish date is tested first. A finished task also has a start date, so testing the start first would label it "In progress". Only when neither date is filled in does the formula reach "Not started".

=IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started"))

Result"In progress"

  1. C2(empty)

    The value in C2.

  2. C2<>""FALSE

    The <> operator tests whether they differ.

  3. B210/5/2026

    The value in B2.

  4. B2<>""TRUE

    The <> operator tests whether they differ.

  5. IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started")"In progress"

    IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.

    • logical_testB2<>""TRUE
    • value_if_true"In progress"
    • value_if_false"Not started"not used
  6. IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started"))"In progress"

    IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.

    • logical_testC2<>""FALSE
    • value_if_true"Done"not used
    • value_if_falseIF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started")"In progress"

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started")). 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.

FormulaResultWhen to use it
=IFS(C2<>"","Done",B2<>"","In progress",TRUE,"Not started")In progress, Done, Not started…The same rules as an IFS list, in the same order.

Common mistakes

  • Test the last stage first, as here, or finished tasks get stuck on an earlier status.
  • A cell containing a space isn't empty and counts as a date entered. Clear stray spaces.

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.

Set a status based on start and end dates

In D2, show "Done" when there is a finish date, "In progress" when there is only a start date, and "Not started" when both are empty. Fill down to D6.

Questions

How do I add an "Overdue" status?

With a due date in column E, add a test before "In progress": =IF(C2<>"","Done",IF(TODAY()>E2,"Overdue",IF(B2<>"","In progress","Not started"))).

How do I count tasks by status?

=COUNTIF(D2:D6,"In progress").

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.