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Is there any way I can check whether a cell is empty?

There is a function ISBLANK() but it returns false when there's a formula in a cell even thought the formula doesn't return anything (or an empty string). I would like it to return true when the formula doesn't return anything as well. So cell seems to be empty without any value.

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migrated from superuser.com Jul 1 '11 at 16:51

3 Answers

up vote 17 down vote accepted

You can check whether a cell is empty or not by using the following formula:

=if(C2="";"The cell is empty";"The cell is not empty")
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Thanks. This one is simpler than mine. It was obviously too trivial for me to think of it. :) – Robert Koritnik Dec 1 '09 at 13:35
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I've searched the internet (Google, search tools, custom range) for references of the ISBLANK function pre-dating the OP's question. The ISBLANK function already existed during the time of asking: ISBLANK reference before 01/12/2009

Therefore this function will suffice:

=IF(ISBLANK(A2)=TRUE;"Blank cell";"Not blank")

There is however one thing to take in consideration:

  • Deleted text, formatted as plain text, isn't empty
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Adding some more explanation as to why this answers the question would help. – ChrisF♦ Feb 10 at 23:47
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I've already described the problem with isblank() function in my question. It only returns true when cell is actually empty (not having a formula in it either). What I was looking for no content cells if that makes it more clear to you. – Robert Koritnik Feb 12 at 7:42
If you add IFERROR(1/0) it will return TRUE. – Jacob Jan Tuinstra Feb 12 at 7:49
@RobertKoritnik Forgot to mention you. – Jacob Jan Tuinstra Feb 12 at 8:49
@JacobJanTuinstra: Include it where? Division by 0 is always error. – Robert Koritnik Feb 13 at 8:01
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up vote 4 down vote

I can use function

=IF(COUNTBLANK(cell:cell)=1;"Blank cell";"Not blank")

that will be one only of the cell is empty.

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