Types of Excel Formula Error

The Excel #NULL! Error

Excel produces the #NULL! error when you attempt to intersect two ranges that don't intersect. For example, the formula =SUM(B1:B10 A5:D7) will return the sum of the values in the range B5:B7 (the intersection of the ranges B1:B10 and A5:D7).

However, if you entered the formula =SUM(B1:B10 C5:D7) you would get the #NULL! error, because the ranges B1:B10 and C5:D7 do not intersect.

This can be corrected by reviewing your formula, and either changing the variables to ensure you get a valid intersection or using the Excel Iferror function to identify a null range and take alternative action. For example:

The Excel #DIV/0! Error

The Excel #DIV/0! is produced when a formula attempts to divide by zero. Clearly, a division by zero is equal to infinity, which cannot be represented by a spreadsheet value, so Excel returns the #DIV/0! error.

For example, if cell C1 contains the value 0, then the formula:

will return the #DIV/0! error.

This problem can be overcome by using the Excel IF function to identify a division by 0 and, in this case, produce an alternative result. For example:

The Excel #VALUE! Error

The #VALUE! Excel formula error is generated when one of the variables in a formula is of the wrong type. For example, the simple formula =B1+C1 relies on cells B1 and C1 containing numeric values. Therefore, if either B1 or C1 contains a text value, this results in the #VALUE! error.

The best way to approach this error is to check each individual part of your formula, to make sure that each argument has the required type. If your function contains nested functions, it is a good idea to copy each nested part of the function into a separate cell, to check what it evaluates to. If necessary, break down each term further, and evaluate its components, until you find the source of the error.

The Excel #REF! Error

If an Excel cell shows the #REF! formula error, this indicates an invalid cell reference. There are 2 common situations that cause this Excel formula error to be generated:

1. The formula previously referenced a cell which has now been deleted.

   E.g. Cell A1 contains the formula:

   =B1+C1

   If you now delete column C of the spreadsheet, the formula reference to C1 is no longer valid, and so you will get the #REF! error.

2. The formula has been copied from a cell that references a range near to the edge of the spreadsheet. When the formula is copied to a new cell, the range changes, in line with the Excel Relative Referencing Rules, so that the resulting range would (hypothetically) reference cells outside of the spreadsheet range.

   E.g. The formula shown below, which is entered into cell A1, counts the number of cells in 'Sheet2', that contain the value 1:

   =COUNTIF(Sheet2!1:1048576, 1)

   If you now copy the above formula into cell A2, Excel attempts to adjust the range to Sheet2!2:1048577. - However, row number 1048577 does not exist (as there are only 1048576 rows in current versions of Excel). Therefore, you will get the #REF! error.

In both of the above examples, if you click on the cell that contains the #REF! error, you will see that the cell reference within the formula has been replaced with #REF!. Therefore, in order to fix this error, you need to re-enter the correct cell references into your formula.

(Note that in the second example above, you could avoid the error by making the cell references absolute, - i.e. change the reference Sheet2!1:1048576 to Sheet2!$1:$1048576).

The Excel #NAME? Error

When Excel encounters text in a formula, it will try to interpret the text as a reference, a named range, or a function name. If the text is not recognised as any of these, the #NAME? error will be generated.

For example, if you intended to type in the function =SUM(B1:C2), but you accidentally type =SM(B1:C2), Excel will fail to recognise the function name "SM" and so will generate the #NAME? error.

Therefore, the way to approach a #NAME? Excel function error is to check your function names, references and named ranges have the correct spellings, and check that any variables that are meant to be text values are entered in double quotes. If your formula contains nested functions, check the results of these individually, until you identify the source of the error.

The Excel #NUM! Error

The #NUM! Excel formula error is generated when Excel encounters an invalid number in a formula. For example, all square numbers are positive, so there is no such thing as a square root of a negative number (excluding imaginary numbers). Therefore, the Excel function SQRT(-2) will generate the #NUM! error, to indicate the invalid negative number argument to the square root function.

Therefore, the way to fix a #NUM! error is to check each of the numeric arguments in your formula. As with the other argument types, if your formula is nested or built up of multiple parts, it is a good idea, to break down the formula and evaluate each argument separately.

The Excel #N/A Error

The #N/A Excel formula error is produced when a value is not available to your formula. For example, the example below shows an attempt to use the Vlookup function to find the value "Cabbage" in column C of the spreadsheet, and return the associated cost from column D. However, as "Cabbage" does not appear in column C, the VLOOKUP function is unable to find this value and so returns the #N/A error.

Therefore, in order to get to the bottom of a #N/A error, you need to look at the values that the formula is accessing and identify why the required value is not available.

If you think the value you are trying to look up is present in the list you are searching, see the Failure To Match Values page for more help with this problem.