NOT function
NOT flips a logical value: TRUE becomes FALSE and FALSE becomes TRUE. It is most useful for turning an existing test around, such as "not blank", "not a number" or "not above the limit", without rewriting the comparison.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Logical functions
- Returns
- The opposite logical value.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same way in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=NOT(logical)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
logical | Required | A value or test that is TRUE or FALSE. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =NOT(C2="Yes") | FALSE | The task is done, so "not done" is FALSE |
| D3 | =NOT(ISBLANK(B3)) | FALSE | The owner cell is empty, so "has an owner" is FALSE |
| D4 | =IF(NOT(C4="Yes"),"Follow up","") | Follow up | Inside IF to act on tasks that aren't done |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Task | Owner | Done | Result |
| Draft budget | Ana | Yes | FALSE |
| Book venue | No | FALSE | |
| Send invites | Raj | No | Follow up |
Practice NOT
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Reorder list
D2, return TRUE when an item needs reordering: its stock is not above its reorder level. Use NOT, then fill down to D7.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Using NOT where <> is simpler | NOT(C2="Yes") and C2<>"Yes" give the same result. For a single comparison the <> version is shorter and easier to read. |
| NOT on a number | NOT treats 0 as FALSE and any other number as TRUE, so NOT(5) is FALSE. Wrap the comparison you mean instead, such as NOT(B2>5). |
| NOT on an empty cell | An empty cell counts as FALSE, so NOT(A2) returns TRUE. Use NOT(ISBLANK(A2)) to test whether the cell has something in it. |
Tips
- NOT reads best around a function that already returns TRUE or FALSE, such as NOT(ISNUMBER(A2)) or NOT(ISBLANK(B2)).
Questions
How do I write "not equal to" in Excel?
Use <>, as in =IF(A2<>"Closed","Open",""). NOT(A2="Closed") does the same thing.
How do I check that a cell is not blank?
=NOT(ISBLANK(A2)) and =A2<>"" both return TRUE when the cell has something in it.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.