How to Use SUMIFS to Analyse Data Like a Pro
If you’re still using SUM and IF separately to crunch numbers in Excel, it’s time to level up. SUMIFS is one of Excel’s most powerful functions for analysing data — and it’s surprisingly eas...
Read MoreExcel is more than just a calculator — it can make decisions based on the data you give it. That’s where IF formulas come in.
The IF function is one of the most powerful tools in Excel. It allows your spreadsheet to check if something is true or false — and then do something different depending on the answer.
For example:
=IF(A2>100,"Over Budget","OK")
This checks if the value in cell A2 is greater than 100. If it is, the result will be “Over Budget”. If not, it’ll say “OK”.
It’s like a simple yes/no test that you can build into your spreadsheet. This becomes incredibly useful when you want Excel to flag problems, pass/fail results, or custom labels.
More advanced uses combine multiple IFs — or use alternatives like IFS or SWITCH in Office 365 — but the basic IF function will take you a long way.
Tip: When training clients, I often find people manually scanning rows when Excel could easily highlight or label them. Using IF saves time, removes human error, and adds logic to your data.
If you haven’t used it before, give it a try. Start small, test your logic, and let Excel make your decisions for you — it’s like having a quiet assistant that never makes mistakes.
