Master the 56 most popular Excel formulas based on real search data and usage statistics. These are the functions you'll use 90% of the time in your daily work. From basic calculations like SUM and AVERAGE to advanced lookups with VLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH, each formula includes syntax, step-by-step examples, and real-world applications. No fluff - just the formulas that matter most.
Excel formulas are the backbone of spreadsheet automation. These 56 most popular formulas represent the functions you'll actually use in real-world scenarios - carefully selected based on over 0.2 million monthly searches. They transform raw data into meaningful insights, automate repetitive calculations, and save hours of manual work. Our curated library covers everything from basic arithmetic to complex logical operations, financial calculations, and data analysis functions. Each formula is explained in plain English with practical examples you can use immediately.
56
Most Popular Formulas
0.2M+ searches/month
15
Categories
100+
Examples
Quick preview of the most searched Excel formulas. Master these 5 and you'll handle the majority of daily tasks. Click any formula to see detailed examples and tutorials.
Browse our complete collection of 56 most popular formulas organized by category. Click any category to filter the formula list below.
Use the search and filters below to find exactly what you need. All 56 formulas are available with detailed examples.
Every Excel formula starts with an equals sign (=). This tells Excel you're entering a formula, not plain text. After the equals sign, type the function name (like SUM, IF, VLOOKUP) followed by parentheses containing your arguments. Example: =SUM(A1:A10) adds cells A1 through A10. Always close parentheses and separate multiple arguments with commas.
Understanding cell references is crucial for copying formulas. Relative references (A1) change when copied—if you copy =A1+B1 down one row, it becomes =A2+B2. Absolute references ($A$1) stay locked when copied. Mixed references ($A1 or A$1) lock either the column or row. Use F4 key to cycle through reference types.
Examples:
#DIV/0!
Division by zero. Check your divisor or use IFERROR to handle gracefully.
#VALUE!
Wrong data type. Verify you're not mixing text with numbers in calculations.
#REF!
Invalid cell reference. Check if you deleted referenced cells.
#NAME?
Excel doesn't recognize the function name. Check for typos.
Bookmark this page for instant access to the most commonly used Excel formulas. Each formula includes syntax and a quick example to get you started immediately.
=SUM(A1:A10)
Add numbers in a range
=AVERAGE(A1:A10)
Calculate mean value
=COUNT(A1:A10)
Count numeric cells
=MAX(A1:A10)
Find largest value
=MIN(A1:A10)
Find smallest value
=ROUND(A1, 2)
Round to 2 decimal places
=IF(A1>10, "Yes", "No")
Conditional logic
=AND(A1>5, B1<10)
Test multiple conditions (all true)
=OR(A1>5, B1<10)
Test conditions (any true)
=NOT(A1>5)
Reverse logical value
=IFERROR(A1/B1, 0)
Handle errors gracefully
=IFS(A1>10,"High",A1>5,"Med")
Multiple IF conditions
=VLOOKUP(A1,B:D,3,0)
Vertical lookup
=INDEX(B:B,MATCH(A1,A:A,0))
Dynamic lookup (better than VLOOKUP)
=XLOOKUP(A1,A:A,B:B)
Modern lookup function
=MATCH("John",A:A,0)
Find position in range
=OFFSET(A1,2,3)
Reference offset from cell
=CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1)
Join text strings
=LEFT(A1,3)
Extract leftmost characters
=RIGHT(A1,3)
Extract rightmost characters
=MID(A1,2,5)
Extract middle characters
=TRIM(A1)
Remove extra spaces
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