Summary

The Excel ISNONTEXT function returns TRUE when a cell contains any value except text. This includes numbers, dates, times, errors, and formulas that do not return text. ISNONTEXT also returns TRUE when a cell is empty.

Purpose 

Test for a non-text value

Return value 

A logical value (TRUE or FALSE)

Syntax

=ISNONTEXT(value)
  • value - The value to check.

How to use 

The ISNONTEXT function returns TRUE when a cell contains any value except text. This includes numbers, dates, times, errors, and formulas that return non-text results. ISNONTEXT also returns TRUE when a cell is empty.

The ISNONTEXT function takes one argument, value, which can be a cell reference, a formula, or a hardcoded value. Typically, value is entered as a cell reference like A1. When value is not text, the ISNONTEXT function will return TRUE. If value is text, ISNONTEXT will return FALSE.

Examples

The ISNONTEXT function returns TRUE for numbers and FALSE for text:

=ISNONTEXT(100) // returns TRUE
=ISNONTEXT("apple") // returns FALSE

If cell A1 contains the number 100, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE:

=ISNONTEXT(A1) // returns TRUE

If cell A1 is empty, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE:

=ISNONTEXT(A1) // returns TRUE

If a cell contains a formula, ISNONTEXT checks the result of the formula:

=ISNONTEXT(2+2) // returns TRUE
=ISNONTEXT(10 &" apples") // returns FALSE
=ISNONTEXT(A1&B1) // returns FALSE

Note: the ampersand (&) is the concatenation operator in Excel. When values are concatenated, the result is text.

Count text non values

To count cells in a range that do not contain text with the ISNONTEXT function, you can use the SUMPRODUCT function like this:

=SUMPRODUCT(--ISNONTEXT(range))

The double negative coerces the TRUE and FALSE results from ISNONTEXT into 1s and 0s and SUMPRODUCT sums the result. You can also use the COUNTIF function to count cells that do not contain text, as explained here.

Notes

  • When value is a number, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE.
  • When value is any error, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE.
  • When value is an empty cell, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.