ISBLANK(B3) returns FALSE, but B3 looks completely empty. And =IFBLANK(B3,"none") throws #NAME?. Both are expected behavior. Here's what each "empty" test actually checks.
Three cells that all look empty
| B | =ISBLANK(B) |
=B="" |
=LEN(B) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | (never touched) | TRUE | TRUE | 0 |
| 3 | ="" |
FALSE | TRUE | 0 |
| 4 | a single space | FALSE | FALSE | 1 |
-
ISBLANK asks "is this cell truly empty?"
=""returns an empty text string, which counts as content, so ISBLANK is FALSE. -
=""asks "does this look like empty text?" TRUE for untouched cells and"", FALSE for 0 and for a space. -
A space fails both tests.
LENgives it away.TRIM(B4)=""is TRUE. (A non-breaking space,CHAR(160), needs SUBSTITUTE.)
IFBLANK is not a Sheets function
IFBLANK sounds like it should exist next to IFNA and IFERROR, but neither Sheets nor Excel has it, so #NAME? is correct. Use one of these:
=IF(B3="","none",B3) → "display empty": untouched cells AND formula blanks
=IF(ISBLANK(B2),"type hours",B2) → "the user hasn't typed anything yet"
They are not interchangeable. Pick the one that matches what "empty" means for that column.
Return a true blank from your own formulas
If downstream formulas use ISBLANK, don't output "" or " ". Leave the argument empty instead:
=IF(A2="",,A2*10)
The omitted argument between the two commas returns a real blank (not ""), so ISBLANK on that cell is TRUE.
Counting blanks disagrees too
-
COUNTAcounts""formulas as filled. -
COUNTBLANKcounts""as blank.
If your dashboard mixes COUNTA, COUNTBLANK and ISBLANK, that's why the numbers don't match.
Quick diagnosis
ISBLANK is FALSE on an empty-looking cell? Click it and look at the formula bar:
-
=""or a formula → use=""tests, or return a true blank. - nothing visible but
LEN> 0 → a space or CHAR(160); clean it. - #NAME? with IFBLANK → replace with
IF(A2="",…).
Originally published on SheetError, a free library of Google Sheets error fixes (I run it).
This article was created with the help of AI.
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