Quick Answer

OR Function

OR checks if ANY condition is TRUE.

Syntax

OR

(logical1, [logical2], ...)

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
logical1	The first condition to test.	Required
logical2	Optional additional conditions to test.	Optional

Basic Example

Check if any condition is true

=OR(A1>100, B1>100)

ResultTRUE

Returns TRUE if either A1 > 100 or B1 > 100.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: OR with IF

Combined logic

Use OR within IF for alternative criteria

=IF(OR(A1="Manager", A1="Director"), "Executive", "Staff")

Result: Executive

Returns "Executive" if either condition is met.

How OR Works

OR evaluates all conditions and returns TRUE if at least one condition is TRUE.

1

Define conditions

Determine conditions where any being true is sufficient.

2

Enter formula

Type =OR(condition1, condition2, ...).

3

Press Enter

The result is TRUE or FALSE.

Important Notes & Limitations

Only one condition needs to be TRUE for OR to return TRUE.
For ALL conditions to be TRUE, use AND instead.

Common Errors & Fixes

#VALUE!Non-boolean arguments

Fix: Ensure all arguments evaluate to TRUE/FALSE.

Download Practice File

Practice OR with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the OR function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Related Functions

AND

AND checks if ALL conditions are TRUE.

FALSE

Returns the logical value FALSE.

IF

IF checks a condition and returns different values based on whether it is true or false.

IFERROR

IFERROR catches errors and returns a custom value instead.

IFNA

Replaces #N/A errors with a fallback value.

IFS

A simpler way to write multiple IF statements without nesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many conditions can OR handle?

OR can handle up to 255 conditions in Excel.

What if I have no conditions?

OR with no arguments returns FALSE.