Summary

You can use Excel’s ISBLANK function with a cell reference as the argument, for example “=ISBLANK(A1)”, to check if that cell is blank or non-blank. Combine it with other functions to perform actions depending on the result.

Microsoft Excel’s

function enables you to check whether a cell is blank or not. You can use this function in conjunction with theIFfunction to determine what happens to your cells when they’re blank or non-blank. Here’s how to do it.

Related:How to Count Blank or Empty Cells in Microsoft Excel

Select a cell.

What Is the ISBLANK Function in Excel?

Excel’s

function lets you check if the specified cell is blank or not. If the cell is blank, the function retrieves a

value. If the cell is not blank, you get a

Enter the ISBLANK function.

value. You can use these values with other Excel functions, likeIF, to perform actions on or in response to your blank and non-blank cells.

The syntax of the

The result of the ISBLANK function.

function is:

Here,valuerefers to the reference of the cell that you want to check. So if you want to check whether or not cell A1 is blank, you would insertA1in place ofvalue.

Excel also offers other functions for working with blank cells, likeCOUNTBLANKthat gives you thetotal count of blank cellsin the specified range. If you already know whether a cell is blank or not but want to know what type of value it contains, you can use functions likeISNUMBERto check if a specified cell contains any numbers, orISTEXTto check if a cell has a text value.

Choose a cell.

Related:How to Use the IS Functions in Microsoft Excel

Check If a Cell Is Blank With Excel’s ISBLANK Function

To use the function, first, open your spreadsheet with the Excel app and click the cell where you want to display the function’s result.

In the selected cell, type the following function and press Enter. In this function, replaceC2with the cell that you want to check.

The result of the IF and ISBLANK functions.

Touse the function for all your recordsin the spreadsheet, from the bottom-right corner of the cell where you entered the function, drag downwards covering all your rows.

Now you know what cell is and isn’t blank in your spreadsheet.

Related:How to Fill Excel Cells Automatically with Flash Fill and Auto Fill

Perform an Action When a Cell Is Blank or Non-Blank

Often, you may want toperform an action depending on your cell’s status. You may want to display a message that says something when your cell is blank and says something else when your cell isn’t blank.

To do that, combine theISLBLANKfunction with Excel’sIFfunction.

First, open your spreadsheet with Excel. Then, click the cell where you want to display your function’s result.

In your selected cell, type the following function and press Enter. Here, replaceC2with the cell that you want to check (if it’s blank or not),Sale Not Madewith the text you want to use if the cell is blank, andSale Madewith the text if the cell is not blank.

To use the function for all your records in the spreadsheet, from the bottom-right corner of the cell where you’ve entered the function, drag downwards covering all your records.

And you now have your chosen text displayed for your blank and non-blank cells.

Related:How to Skip Pasting Blank Cells When Copying in Microsoft Excel