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IFS Function in Excel: Multiple Conditions Without Nesting
IFS checks a list of conditions in order and returns the result of the first one that's true. It does the same as a stack of nested IFs, but is much easier to read and write.
IFS · IFS syntax
=IFS(condition1, value1, [condition2, value2], …)You write pairs: a condition and what to return when it's true. Up to 127 pairs. IFS is available in Excel 2019, 2021, 2024 and Microsoft 365.
Example: grades from scores
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Student | Score | Grade |
| 2 | Anna | 72 | B |
| 3 | Ben | 55 | D |
| 4 | Chris | 90 | A |
| 5 | Dana | 41 | F |
Excel checks from left to right and stops at the first true condition. For 72, the first test fails and the second succeeds: B. The same with nested IF needs four IFs and four closing brackets.
The TRUE trick for "everything else"
IFS has no built-in "otherwise" value. If no condition is true, it returns #N/A. That's why the last pair is TRUE, "F": TRUE is always true, so it catches everything the earlier conditions missed.
Order matters
Because IFS stops at the first match, put the strictest condition first. =IFS(B2>=50, "D", B2>=80, "A", …) gives every score above 50 a D, because 90 is also >= 50.
IFS vs. IF vs. SWITCH vs. a lookup
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| One condition, two outcomes | IF |
| Several ranges or comparisons (>=, <) | IFS |
| One value compared to fixed options ("M" → Monday) | SWITCH |
| Many tiers that may change | A table with XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP |
Frequently asked questions
Why does IFS return #N/A?
None of the conditions is true. Add TRUE with a default value as the last pair.
Is IFS available in Excel 2016?
Only for Microsoft 365 subscribers. The standalone Excel 2016 doesn't have IFS; use nested IFs there.
Can I combine IFS with AND or OR?
Yes, any condition can be AND(...) or OR(...), for example =IFS(AND(B2>=60, C2="Yes"), "Pass", TRUE, "Fail").