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Logical & ConditionalVerified QA Tested

NOT.

Reverses the logic of its argument (TRUE becomes FALSE, FALSE becomes TRUE).

SyntaxArgumentsExampleInteractive SandboxGeneratorCompatibilityFAQRelatedCheat Sheet
Category: Logical & Conditional
ExcelExcel 365Excel 2021Excel 2019Google Sheets

How it works.

NOT inverts a boolean condition. If the condition is TRUE, NOT returns FALSE; if the condition is FALSE, NOT returns TRUE.

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=NOT(logical)
Tip:Arguments wrapped in square brackets [like_this] are optional; all other arguments are required.

Formula arguments.

Every parameter accepted by the NOT function is detailed below.

logicalRequired

A condition or cell that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE.

Example value: A2="Shipped"

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Order Status Inversion

Flag orders that have NOT yet been completed.

Order IDStatusNeeds Attention?
1001Pending—
1002Complete—
Applied Formula
=NOT(B2="Complete")
Expected Result:true

Evaluates NOT over the sample table cells, placing the verified output in cell C2.

Formula generator.

Full Generator Wizard

Customize the argument fields below to generate a tailored NOT formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=NOT()

Expected result behavior.

Returns boolean TRUE based on sample evaluation criteria and active cell references.

Sample Output:true
Output Type:Boolean Flag

Best Practices

  • Combine with ISBLANK to test if a cell contains data: =NOT(ISBLANK(A2)).

Common Mistakes

  • Non-boolean and non-numeric inputs produce #VALUE!.
Compatibility Database

Platform & version compatibility.

Verified platform compatibility matrix based on actual spreadsheet calculation engine specifications.

Excel✓
Supported
Excel 365✓
Supported
Excel 2021✓
Supported
Excel 2019✓
Supported
Google Sheets✓
Supported
Microsoft Excel History & Version Availability

Core standard function supported across all modern and legacy Microsoft Excel versions (365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010), as well as Excel for the Web and Mac.

Google Sheets Compatibility Notes

100% compatible with Google Sheets. Uses identical argument order, data types, and standard calculation logic.

Frequently asked questions.

Technical Q&A
Can I use NOT across different worksheets in Excel?↓

Yes. You can reference cells located on other sheets by including the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark, for example: =NOT(Sheet2!A2:A10). If the sheet name contains spaces, enclose it in single quotes: ='Q1 Report'!A2:A10.

What is the most common reason for errors in NOT?↓

Non-boolean and non-numeric inputs produce #VALUE!.

Does NOT work identically in Google Sheets?↓

Yes, NOT is supported in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with standard evaluation behavior.