How to Use the OR Function in Excel for Logical Tests

The OR function is one of Excel’s logical functions that allows you to test multiple conditions at the same time OR returns TRUE if any of the conditions evaluate to TRUE, and FALSE if all conditions evaluate to FALSE. The OR function is extremely useful for expanding the functionality of Excel’s other logical and lookup functions

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know to use the OR function effectively in your Excel worksheets, including:

• What the OR Function Does
• OR Function Syntax and Arguments
• Practical Examples of Using OR
• Combining OR with Other Functions Like IF, AND, NOT
• Using OR with Conditional Formatting and Data Validation
• Notes and Tips for Using OR

What Does the OR Function Do?

The purpose of OR is to test multiple conditions or criteria simultaneously and return TRUE if any of them are true, Some examples of using OR

• =OR(A1>10, A1<5) – Returns TRUE if A1 is greater than 10 OR less than 5
• =OR(A1>0, B1>0) – Returns TRUE if A1 or B1 is greater than 0
• =OR(A1=”Yes”, B1=”No”) – Returns TRUE if A1 is “Yes” OR B1 is “No”

The OR function can take up to 255 logical tests or conditions as arguments. As long as any one of the tests evaluates to TRUE, the overall OR function will return TRUE. If all arguments provided evaluate to FALSE, the OR function will return FALSE.

This ability to “bundle” multiple tests into one logical expression is what makes OR so useful.

OR Function Syntax

The syntax for the OR function is:

=OR(logical1, [logical2], ...)

Where:

• logical1 – The first condition to test. Required.
• logical2 – The second condition to test. Optional, up to 255 conditions allowed.

The arguments for OR can include:

• Logical values like TRUE and FALSE
• Numbers like 1 and 0 (where 0 is FALSE)
• Cell references
• Comparisons and expressions that evaluate to TRUE or FALSE
• Other functions that return TRUE or FALSE

Examples of Using the OR Function

Let’s look at some examples of using OR on its own and together with other functions:

Simple OR Examples

Test if A2 is greater than 1 OR less than 100:

=OR(A2>1,A2<100)

Displays TRUE if A2 is greater than 1 OR less than 100, else FALSE.

Test for multiple values with OR:

=OR(A2=10,A2=20,A2=30)

TRUE if A2 is equal to 10, 20 OR 30. FALSE for any other value.

OR with the IF Function

IF statements are commonly nested inside OR:

=IF(OR(A1>10,A1<5),"Outside range","Within range")

If A1 is greater than 10 OR less than 5, return “Outside range”, else return “Within range”.

Here the OR function expands what would otherwise require nested IFs.

OR with AND

Combine AND and OR to create more complex logical expressions:

=IF(AND(OR(A1=5,A1=10),B1>1000),"Valid","Invalid")

In this case both criteria must be true: A1 must be 5 OR 10, and B1 must be greater than 1000.

Using OR with Conditional Formatting

OR is frequently used in conditional formatting rules. For example:

=OR(A1="Yes",A1="Approved")

This will highlight cells that contain exactly “Yes” or “Approved”.

Data Validation with OR

The OR function can also be used in data validation to restrict cells to a predefined list of values.

For example, if you want to allow only “Yes”, “No”, or “Maybe” to be entered in a cell, use:

=OR(A1="Yes",A1="No",A1="Maybe")

This will throw an error if anything besides those 3 options is entered.

Tips for Using the OR Function

Here are some additional notes and tips for using OR effectively:

• OR is not case-sensitive, “yes” = “YES”
• Numbers are evaluated as TRUE except for 0 which is FALSE
• Text values and empty cells are ignored
• Use Ctrl + Shift + Enter to enter OR formulas as arrays
• Watch out for errors like #VALUE! if no logical values are found
• OR can’t be used in array formulas returning multiple values
• OR will short-circuit and stop reading arguments after finding the first TRUE

Common Uses for the OR Function

Some of the most common uses for OR in Excel include:

• Testing if a value equals X or Y
• Checking if a date falls on the weekend
• Flagging records that meet certain criteria
• Showing a message if input is invalid
• Making sure all required values are entered
• Detecting errors in a dataset
• Creating dynamic ranges that expand based on criteria
• Building conditional formatting rules

By combining OR with functions like IF, AND, VLOOKUP, and COUNTIFS, you can create some very powerful logic in Excel worksheets.

The OR function is one of Excel’s most useful logic functions for testing multiple conditions at the same time. Use it to simplify formulas and validate data.

In Summary

The OR function allows logical “this or that” testing in Excel formulas. Key points:

• Test up to 255 conditions at once
• Returns TRUE if any argument is TRUE
• Commonly combined with IF, AND, VLOOKUP
• Useful for conditional formatting and data validation
• Can create complex logic when nested

Knowing how and when to use the OR function will help you write more efficient and robust Excel formulas.