Compares the two sides and returns TRUE or FALSE.
- Left side
B2- Right side
7070
Nested IF tiers explained
A nested IF assigns a tier by testing the highest threshold first and moving down until a condition passes. Here a score of 76 reaches the Fine tier.
How Excel works this out
Inner to outerCompares the two sides and returns TRUE or FALSE.
- Left side
B2- Right side
8080
Returns one value when a condition is true and another when it's false
- Condition
B2>=70The condition that you want to test. It can be an expression, a value, or a cell reference.- Value if true
"Fine"The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to TRUE.- Value if false
"Needs work"The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to FALSE.
Compares the two sides and returns TRUE or FALSE.
- Left side
B2- Right side
9090
Returns one value when a condition is true and another when it's false
- Condition
B2>=80The condition that you want to test. It can be an expression, a value, or a cell reference.- Value if true
"Good"The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to TRUE.- Value if false
IF(B2>=70,"Fine","Needs work")The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to FALSE.
Returns one value when a condition is true and another when it's false
- Condition
B2>=90The condition that you want to test. It can be an expression, a value, or a cell reference.- Value if true
"Excellent"The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to TRUE.- Value if false
IF(B2>=80,"Good",IF(B2>=70,"Fine","Needs work"))The value or formula to return if the logical test evaluates to FALSE.
Formula sample data
How this IF formula works
The score misses 90 and 80, then passes 70. Excel returns Fine and leaves the final Needs work fallback unused.
The rows above are ordered from the innermost calculation to the final result. Excel has to finish an inner function before the function around it can use that value. Edit a cell in the grid to see that dependency chain update for real.
Try your own formula and data
The sample spreadsheet is fully editable. Change the formula or any cell it references. The intermediate values recalculate in your browser.
Practice with an exercise
Here is an exercise that uses IF. Type the formula into a real spreadsheet and we will check your answer as you go.
IF with numeric output
BeginnerCalculate a 10% bonus if sales exceed target, otherwise 0.
Open exerciseCommon mistakes with IF
If this formula is not doing what you expect, one of these is usually why.
Why does my nested IF always give the same answer?
Excel stops at the first TRUE test, so a loose threshold placed before a strict one swallows everything. Put the highest threshold first and work downward.
Why does Excel say "You've entered too many arguments for this function"?
A nested IF ended up beside the previous one instead of inside its false branch. Each IF needs three arguments and its own closing parenthesis.
Why does my IF return FALSE instead of my text?
The value_if_false argument is missing. Add the third argument, even if it is only an empty pair of quotes.
When should I use IFS instead of nested IF?
IFS often reads more easily once you have several ordered thresholds. Nested IF remains useful when each level needs an explicit fallback.