New: ready-to-use spreadsheet templatesExplore the collection  →
Home/Formulas/IFERROR
LOGICAL · GOOGLE SHEETS

IFERROR
replace any formula error with a fallback value.

Use IFERROR to show a useful message instead of an error. This guide shows the exact structure, a working example and the mistakes most likely to break it.

JosephineVerified by JosephineReviewed July 25, 2026
THE FORMULA=IFERROR(value, [value_if_error])
A

valueformula to evaluate

B

value_if_errorfallback result

TRY IT YOURSELF

Change the sheet.
Watch the answer update.

Edit any highlighted cell below. The example recalculates immediately.

LIVE PLAYGROUND=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(E2,A:B,2,FALSE),"Not found")
fx=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(E2,A:B,2,FALSE),"Not found")
A · NUMERATORB · DENOMINATOR
2
3
4
5
RESULT30Updates live

Try changing a value above. This example runs entirely in your browser.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

How the formula
thinks.

  1. 01

    valueformula to evaluate

  2. 02

    value_if_errorfallback result

COMMON FIXES

When IFERROR
doesn’t behave.

WRONG RESULT

Wrong result

Check that every range starts and ends on the same rows, and that numbers are stored as numbers.

FORMULA PARSE ERROR

Formula parse error

Check commas, quotation marks and closing parentheses. Your locale may use semicolons instead of commas.

UNEXPECTED BLANKS

Unexpected blanks

Test the source cells for hidden spaces, empty strings and inconsistent data types.

fxNeed help with IFERROR?Fix my formula →