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MS Excel: ISERR Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel ISERR function with syntax and examples.


The Microsoft Excel ISERR function can be used to check for error values.


The syntax for the Microsoft Excel ISERR function is:

ISERR( value )

Parameters or Arguments

value is the value that you want to test. If value is an error value (except #N/A), this function will return TRUE. Otherwise, it will return FALSE.

Applies To

The ISERR function can be used in the following versions of Microsoft Excel:

  • Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Excel Function

The ISERR function can be used in Microsoft Excel as the following type of function:

  • Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel ISERR function examples and explore how to use the ISERR function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel

Based on the spreadsheet above, the following Excel ISERR examples would return:

Result: TRUE

Result: FALSE

Result: TRUE

Result: FALSE

Result: FALSE

Result: TRUE

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can you give me specific examples of when and how the ISERR function is used. Specifically, in a worksheet why would I use this function instead of just running down a column or across a row to look for the errors?

Answer: Often times your spreadsheet contains a large amount of formulas which will not properly calculate when an error is encountered. The ISERR function, in combination with the If function, can be used to default a cell's value when an error is occurred. This allows your formulas to evaluate properly without your intervention.

For example, you may encounter a scenario below:

Microsoft Excel

Instead of using the formula:


You could use the ISERR function as follows:


Microsoft Excel

In this case, the ISERR function would allow you to return a 0, when an error was encounter such as a "divide by 0 error". Now all of your formulas will still work.