Excel Function Translator Logo
    The Excel Translator

    OR

    Logical

    Returns TRUE if any argument evaluates to TRUE. Used when you need at least one condition to be met.

    Translations
    EnglishOR
    FrenchOU
    SpanishO
    GermanODER
    ItalianO
    PortugueseOU
    DutchOF
    PolishLUB
    RussianИЛИ
    TurkishYADA
    CzechNEBO
    HungarianVAGY
    SwedishELLER
    DanishELLER
    FinnishTAI
    Syntax
    OR(logical1, [logical2], ...)

    Arguments

    • logical1The first condition to test
    • logical2Additional conditions to test (up to 255)(optional)
    Examples
    =OR(A1="Red",A1="Blue")
    TRUE/FALSE

    TRUE if A1 is either 'Red' or 'Blue'

    =IF(OR(B1<0,B1>100),"Invalid","Valid")
    Invalid or Valid

    Checks if value is out of range

    =OR(A1>100,B1>100,C1>100)
    TRUE/FALSE

    TRUE if any cell exceeds 100

    Tips & Best Practices
    • •Only one condition needs to be TRUE for OR to return TRUE
    • •Combine with AND for complex logical tests
    • •Use with IF to handle multiple acceptable values
    Common Mistakes
    • •Assuming OR requires most conditions to be true - it only takes one TRUE condition out of any number of them to return TRUE
    • •Confusing OR with AND when translating a natural-language requirement like 'either... or...' but writing an AND formula by mistake
    • •Not realizing OR evaluates every argument the same way AND does, so a condition that could throw an error still causes a problem even after an earlier TRUE result
    Related Functions
    ANDRequires every condition to be TRUE, instead of just one
    NOTReverses a TRUE/FALSE result, often combined with OR
    IFCommonly wraps OR to trigger an action when any one of several conditions is met
    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many TRUE conditions does OR need to return TRUE?

    Just one. All the rest can be FALSE and OR still returns TRUE overall.

    Does OR stop evaluating after finding one TRUE condition?

    No, Excel evaluates every argument regardless, so a later argument that errors will still cause a problem in the overall formula.

    Can I use OR directly in conditional formatting?

    Yes, use a formula-based rule like =OR(A1="Urgent",A1="High") to highlight rows matching either value.

    Need to translate a formula using OR?

    Use our translator to convert your complete formula