OR function
OR returns TRUE when at least one of its conditions is TRUE. Use it inside IF when any one of several reasons should lead to the same result: free shipping for large orders or members, or a flag for orders that are late or damaged.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Logical functions
- Returns
- TRUE if any argument is TRUE, FALSE only when every argument is FALSE.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same way in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=OR(logical1, [logical2], ...)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
logical1 | Required | The first condition, such as B2>=100. |
logical2 | Optional | More conditions, up to 255 in total. |
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 | =OR(B2>=100,C2="Yes") | TRUE | A member, so TRUE even though the order is under $100 |
| D3 | =IF(OR(B3>=100,C3="Yes"),0,7.99) | $0.00 | Inside IF: shipping is free when either condition holds |
| D4 | =OR(B4>=100,C4="Yes") | FALSE | Neither condition is met, so FALSE |
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
| Order | Total | Member | Result |
| W-501 | $72 | Yes | TRUE |
| W-502 | $140 | No | $0.00 |
| W-503 | $35 | No | FALSE |
Practice OR
From lesson 6, AND, OR & IFS. Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Free shipping rule
D2:D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Expecting OR to need every condition | OR is satisfied by a single TRUE. If all the conditions must hold, use AND. |
| #VALUE! from a shortcut | =OR(C2="East","West") returns #VALUE! because "West" on its own isn't a test. Repeat the cell: =OR(C2="East",C2="West"). |
Tips
- =OR(C2={"East","West","North"}) tests one cell against several values without repeating C2.
Questions
How do I use IF with OR?
Make OR the first argument of IF: =IF(OR(B2>=100,C2="Yes"),"Free","$7.99"). One TRUE condition is enough.
Can I combine AND and OR?
Yes. =IF(AND(B2>100,OR(C2="East",C2="West")),"Bonus","") requires a total over 100 and either region.
Lessons that use OR
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.