Cellwise

Cleanup function

Excel ISBLANK function

ISBLANK returns TRUE when a cell is completely empty and FALSE when it holds anything. Use it to mark open tasks, catch missing data, or skip empty rows in a calculation.

fx=ISBLANK(value)

Arguments

value
The cell to test.

ISBLANK examples

Every result below was calculated live from this sample sheet.

ABC
1TaskOwnerDone on
2Order samplesMia2026-04-02
3Book venueRaj
4Print badges2026-04-09
5Send invitesMia
  1. fx=ISBLANK(C3)

    Result: TRUE

    TRUE, because nobody has entered a finish date for booking the venue.

  2. fx=IF(ISBLANK(C5),"Open","Done")

    Result: Open

    Turns the check into a status label.

  3. fx=IF(ISBLANK(B4),"Needs owner",B4)

    Result: Needs owner

    Flags tasks with no owner, otherwise shows the name.

  4. fx=ISBLANK(A2)

    Result: FALSE

    FALSE, because the cell has text in it.

How to use ISBLANK

  1. Click the cell for the result.
  2. Type =ISBLANK( and click the cell to test.
  3. Press Enter to see TRUE or FALSE.
  4. Wrap it in IF to show your own words instead.

Common ISBLANK mistakes

Cells with a formula that returns ""

They look empty but are not, so ISBLANK says FALSE. Test with =A2="" instead.

Cells with a space

A single space counts as content. Use TRIM or LEN to find them.

Testing a whole range at once

To count empty cells, use COUNTBLANK on the range.

ISBLANK FAQ

How do I check if a cell is empty in Excel?

Use =ISBLANK(A2) for TRUE or FALSE, or =IF(A2="","Empty","Filled") if the cell might hold an empty-text formula.

Why does ISBLANK return FALSE for a cell that looks empty?

The cell holds something invisible, usually a formula returning "" or a space. ISBLANK is only TRUE for truly empty cells.

How do I count blank cells in Excel?

Use =COUNTBLANK(range). Unlike ISBLANK, it also counts cells with formulas that return "".

Practice ISBLANK in these lessons

Related functions

Updated 2026-10-31