Excel formula: If not blank multiple cells

Generic formula

=IF(A1<>"",A1,IF(B1<>"",B1,IF(C1<>"",C1,IF(D1<>"",D1,"no value"))))

Summary

To test multiple cells, and return the value from the first non-blank cell, you can use a formula based on the IF function. In the example shown, column D holds task complete dates. The formula in cell F5 is:

=IF(B5<>"",B5,IF(C5<>"",C5,IF(D5<>"",D5,IF(E5<>"",E5,"no value"))))

which returns a value from the first non-blank cell, B5, C5, D5, or E5, respectively. When all cells are blank, the formula returns "no value". The value returned when all cells are blank can be adjusted as desired.

Explanation

In Excel, empty double quotes ("") mean empty string. The <> symbol is a logical operator that means "not equal to", so the following expression means "A1 is not empty":

=A1<>"" // A1 is not empty

This expression is used four times in the formula shown in the example, in order to test four different cells in a particular order.

The overall structure of this formula is what is called a "nested IF formula". Each IF statement checks a cell to see if it not empty. If not empty, the IF returns the value from that cell. If the cell is empty, the IF statement hands off processing to another IF statement:

=IF(B5<>"",B5,IF(C5<>"",C5,IF(D5<>"",D5,IF(E5<>"",E5,"no value"))))

The flow of a nested IF is easier to visualize if you add line breaks to the formula. Below, line breaks have been added to the formula to line up the IF statements:

=
IF(B5<>"",B5,
IF(C5<>"",C5,
IF(D5<>"",D5,
IF(E5<>"",E5,
"no value"))))

With ISBLANK

Excel contains the ISBLANK function, which returns TRUE when a cell is blank:

=ISBLANK(A1) // A1 is blank

The behavior can be "reversed" by nesting the ISBLANK function inside the NOT function:

=ISBLANK(A1) // A1 is not blank

The formula above can be re-written to use ISBLANK as follows:

=IF(NOT(ISBLANK(B5)),B5,IF(NOT(ISBLANK(C5)),C5,IF(NOT(ISBLANK(D5)),D5,IF(NOT(ISBLANK(E5)),E5,"novalue"))))

Author

Dave Bruns

Related formulas

If cell is not blank

In this example, column D records the date a task was completed. Therefore, if the column contains a date (i.e. is not blank), we can assume the task is complete. The formula in cell E5 uses the IF function to check if D5 is "not empty". If so, the...

If cell is blank

The logical expression ="" means "is empty". In the example shown, column D contains a date if a task has been completed. In column E, a formula checks for blank cells in column D. If a cell is blank, the result is a status of "Open". If the cell...

If cell contains

One limitation of the IF function is that it does not support wildcards like "?" and "*". This means you can't use IF by itself to test for text that may appear anywhere in a cell. One solution is a formula that uses the IF function together with...

Return blank if

This formula is based on the IF function, configured with a simple logical test, a value to return when the test is TRUE, and a value to return when the test is FALSE. In plain English: if Value 1 equals 1, return Value 2. If Value 1 is not 1,...

Related functions

Excel IF Function

The IF function runs a logical test and returns one value for a TRUE result, and another for a FALSE result. For example, to "pass" scores above 70: =IF(A1>70,"Pass","Fail"). More than one condition can be tested by nesting IF functions. The IF...

Excel ISBLANK Function

The Excel ISBLANK function returns TRUE when a cell contains is empty, and FALSE when a cell is not empty. For example, if A1 contains "apple", ISBLANK(A1) returns FALSE.

Excel NOT Function

The Excel NOT function returns the opposite of a given logical or boolean value. When given TRUE, NOT returns FALSE.When given FALSE, NOT returns TRUE. Use the NOT function to reverse a logical value.

Excel Formula Training

Formulas are the key to getting things done in Excel. In this accelerated training, you'll learn how to use formulas to manipulate text, work with dates and times, lookup values with VLOOKUP and INDEX & MATCH, count and sum with criteria, dynamically rank values, and create dynamic ranges. You'll also learn how to troubleshoot, trace errors, and fix problems. Instant access. See details here.

500 Formulas | 101 Functions

Exceljet

Quick, clean, and to the point

If not blank multiple cells

With ISBLANK

Excel Formula Training

Download 100+ Important Excel Functions

Excel video training