How to Use a Blank Cell as a Reference in an "If Statement" in Excel
- 1). Type the basic if formula, leaving off the period at the end: =IF(cell,true,false).
- 2). Replace "cell" in the formula with the cell in question: =IF(A2,true,false).
- 3). Add the isblank function directly before the cell reference: =IF(ISBLANK(A2),true,false).
- 4). Replace "true" and "false" with what Excel should place in the cell if A2 is blank (that is, if the condition of A2 being blank is true) and what Excel should place in the cell if A2 is not blank (that is, if the condition is false), respectively. Enter values, such as "5" and "10," additional functions, such as "SUM(B1:B10)," or text enclosed in quotation marks, such as "Blank" or "Not blank." Your completed formula might read: =IF(ISBLANK(A2),"Blank","Not blank") or =IF(ISBLANK(A2), SUM(B1:B10), A2). The latter displays the value of cell A2 if A2 isn't blank and sums cells B1 through B10 if it is.