Formula Errors

In this tutorial I will show you how to identify and fix some of the frequently recurring formula errors in Excel.

#### Error

The #### Error code is displayed when your column is not wide enough for Excel to display the value in the cell.

##### Error in Excel

To fix this error code click on the right border of the column header and increase the column width. You can also have Excel automatically adjust the column width so the widest cell in the column fits. To do this simply double click on the right-side of the column border.

Fix the ##### Error by adjusting the cell width

#NAME? Error

The #NAME? code is displayed when Excel does not recognize text in one of your formulas.

#NAME Error in Excel

In the example below I incorrectly wrote the AVERAGE function.

Fix the error code by correctly writing the function

#Value! Error

The #VALUE! code is displayed when you inserted the wrong type of argument in your formula.

#VALUE! Error in Excel

In the example below there is text instead of a number in cell A2. All I have to do to resolve this is to change the value in cell A2 to a number or to use a function to ignore cells containing text.

Fix the #VALUE! error by putting the correct argument in your function

 #DIV/0! Error

The #Div/0 code is displayed when a formula in Excel attempts to divide a number by 0 or an empty cell.

#DIV/0! Error in Excel

To fix this error either change the value of the cell containing the 0 or stop the error from being displayed by using the IF function as shown below.

Fix the #DIV/0! Error by replacing the cell containing the zero in the function

Use the IF function to stop Excel from showing the #DIV/0! Error

Explanation: If cell A2 equals 0, an empty string is displayed. If not, the result of the formula A1/A2 is displayed.

#REF! Error

Excel displays the #REF! error when a formula refers to a cell that is not valid.
The formula in cell C3 refers to cells A1 and B1.

The formula in cell C3 refers to cells A1 and B1

If you were to (accidentally) delete column B for example, then your function in cell C1 would shift over to cell B1 and your function would no longer be valid.

Deleting column B after clicking on the column header

The #REF! Error appears in cell B1

To fix this error you can click on Undo in the Quick Access Toolbar (CTRL + Z), or delete the +#REF! in the formula. Note that when clicking Undo Excel will revert your previous action, in this case deleting column B.

The Undo option is located on the top left-hand corner of Excel