Why you are using nested IF when you have IFS formula?

Nested IF vs IFS in Excel – A Complete Guide



When working with logical conditions in Excel, two powerful tools at your disposal are the IFS function and the traditional Nested IF formula. Both help you make decisions based on multiple conditions, but each has its own structure, advantages, and best use cases.

What is a Nested IF Formula?

A Nested IF formula uses multiple IF functions inside each other to evaluate different conditions

Syntax:

=IF(condition1, result1, IF(condition2, result2, IF(condition3, result3, result_if_false)))


Explanation:

  • If B1 < 13, it returns “Child”
  • Else, if B2 < 20, it returns “Teen”
  • Else, if B3 < 60, it returns “Adult”
  • Otherwise, it returns “Senior”
What is the IFS Function?

The IFS function is a newer, cleaner alternative to nested IFs (available from Excel 2016 and later). It evaluates multiple conditions in a streamlined way.

Syntax:

=IFS(condition1, result1, condition2, result2, condition3, result3, ...)


Explanation:

The function checks each condition in order:
  • If A1 > 90 → “A”
  • If A1 > 80 → “B”
  • If A1 > 70 → “C”
  • If A1 < 70 → “Fail”

When Should You Use IFS or Nested IF?

Use IFS when:

    • You're using Excel 2016 or later.
    • You want clean, readable formulas.
    • You have straightforward multiple conditions
Use Nested IF when:

    • You need complex logic (e.g., combining AND/OR).
    • You're working in older Excel versions.
    • You want more control over "else if" and fallback logic.


Both IFS and Nested IF are powerful tools in Excel and knowing when and how to use them will make your spreadsheets smarter and more dynamic. Use IFS for cleaner logic and simplicity, but don’t be afraid to go old-school with Nested IF when the situation calls for deeper control.

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