What to do when if is blank then 0

To return 0 when a referenced cell is blank, Excel uses the IF function combined with the ISBLANK function. The IF function evaluates the condition and returns a value based on that condition.

Formula for returning 0 when a cell is blank

Use the structure:

=IF(ISBLANK(A1),0,A1)

This formula returns 0 when A1 is blank, and returns the value in A1 when it is not blank.

Formula when the cell contains an empty string ("")

Excel treats a visually empty cell and a formula returning "" differently. The formula below handles both conditions:

=IF(A1="",0,A1)```

Formula for calculations that must avoid blank errors

When the calculation requires a numeric result and the referenced cell might be blank, the following structure prevents errors:

=IF(A1="",0,A1*10)```

The formula multiplies A1 by 10 when it has a value; it returns 0 when the cell is blank.

How to apply the formula (Windows and MacBook)

1. Select the cell where the result should appear.

2. Type the preferred IF formula.

3. Press Enter on Windows or Return on macOS.

4. Drag the fill handle to copy the formula to other cells.

When to use ISBLANK vs ""

1. ISBLANK is effective when cells contain no data.

2. "" is effective when a formula in a cell outputs an empty string.

3. Both methods handle different blank conditions, so choose based on the source data.