SIGN function
SIGN tells you which side of zero a number is on: 1 for positive, -1 for negative and 0 for zero. It turns a change into a direction (up, down or flat) that you can count, chart or turn into a label.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Math functions
- Returns
- 1, -1 or 0.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=SIGN(number)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The number or calculation to test. |
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 | =SIGN(C2-B2) | 1 | Up on last year: 1 |
| D3 | =SIGN(C3-B3) | -1 | Down on last year: -1 |
| D4 | =SIGN(C4-B4) | 0 | No change: 0 |
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
| Month | Last year | This year | Direction |
| Jan | 420 | 455 | 1 |
| Feb | 390 | 372 | -1 |
| Mar | 410 | 410 | 0 |
Practice SIGN
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Which way did prices move?
D2, use SIGN to show whether each product's price went up (1), down (-1) or stayed the same (0). Fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Got 0 when you expected a direction | The two values are equal, or both cells are empty (empty cells count as 0). Check the inputs. |
| You want words, not numbers | Wrap SIGN in CHOOSE: =CHOOSE(SIGN(C2-B2)+2,"Down","Flat","Up"). |
| #VALUE! | One of the cells holds text. Make sure both values are numbers. |
Tips
- Count how many months grew: =COUNTIF(D2:D13,1).
Questions
What does the SIGN function return for zero?
0. Positive numbers return 1 and negative numbers return -1.
How do I show up or down labels from a change?
Use =CHOOSE(SIGN(C2-B2)+2,"Down","Flat","Up"), or an IF formula, or conditional formatting icon sets.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.