SIGN
Math & Trig
Returns the sign of a number: 1 for positive, -1 for negative, 0 for zero.
Translations
EnglishSIGN
FrenchSIGNE
SpanishSIGNO
GermanVORZEICHEN
ItalianSEGNO
PortugueseSINAL
DutchPOS.NEG
PolishZNAK.LICZBY
RussianЗНАК
TurkishİŞARET
CzechSIGN
HungarianELŐJEL
SwedishTECKEN
DanishFORTEGN
FinnishETUMERKKI
Syntax
SIGN(number)Arguments
numberAny real number
Examples
=SIGN(10)1
Positive number
=SIGN(-5)-1
Negative number
=SIGN(0)0
Zero
Tips & Best Practices
- •Useful for conditional formatting
- •Combine with ABS for calculations
- •Helps identify direction of change
Common Mistakes
- •Expecting SIGN to return the actual value or its magnitude - it only returns -1, 0, or 1 regardless of how large the input number is
- •Applying SIGN to text that looks numeric but hasn't been converted, which returns a #VALUE! error since SIGN requires a genuine number
- •Using SIGN when ABS or a direct comparison (like IF(A1>0,...)) would more directly express the intended logic, adding an unnecessary layer of indirection
Related Functions
ABSRemoves a number's sign entirely rather than reporting what it was, the complementary operation to SIGN.IFOften used alongside or instead of SIGN when the resulting logic needs more than three possible outcomes.SUMPRODUCTSometimes combined with SIGN inside an array formula to count or weight values based on their sign.Frequently Asked Questions
What values can SIGN return?
Only three: -1 for a negative number, 0 for zero, and 1 for a positive number, regardless of the input's actual magnitude.
Why does SIGN return #VALUE!?
The input isn't a genuine number - it's likely text that looks numeric but hasn't been converted, which VALUE can fix first.
When is SIGN more useful than a direct IF comparison?
SIGN is compact when you need to multiply or weight a value by its direction (like SIGN(A1)*B1), rather than branch into entirely different logic, which is where IF is usually clearer.
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