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ExcelExcel 2013+

ISFORMULA function in Excel

Returns TRUE if there is a reference to a cell that contains a formula

=ISFORMULA(reference)

ISFORMULA syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • referencerangeRequired

    Reference is a reference to the cell you want to test. Reference can be a cell reference, a formula, or a name that refers to a cell.

ISFORMULA examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. Spot hard-coded values in a column that should be formulas:

    =IF(ISFORMULA(C2), "calculated", "typed")

    Result"typed"

  2. How many cells in the totals column were overwritten by hand:

    =SUMPRODUCT(--NOT(ISFORMULA(C2:C200)))

    Result2

ISFORMULA in Google Sheets

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try ISFORMULA in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the ISFORMULA formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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Related functions

More ways Excel gets this done.