---
title: "ISNUMBER function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)

# **The ISNUMBER function**

Returns TRUE if a value is a number and FALSE for anything else, including text that only looks like a number. Dates and times are numbers too.

=

ISNUMBER(

## **Syntax**

```
ISNUMBER(value)
```

<dl><dt>**value **</dt>
<dd>The cell, value or formula result to check.</dd></dl>

## **Examples**

D1=ISNUMBER(B2)

|  | A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Item | Quantity |  | **TRUE** |
| 2 | Pens | 12 |  | |
| 3 | Erasers | 12 |  | |

D1=ISNUMBER(B3)

|  | A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Item | Quantity |  | **FALSE** |
| 2 | Pens | 12 |  | |
| 3 | Erasers | 12 |  | |

C1=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("pro",A2))

|  | A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Product |  | **TRUE** |
| 2 | Laptop Pro 14 |  | |

## **Practice ISNUMBER**

- [**1****Check if a text contains a word**→](https://practiceexcelonline.com/practice/find-search/search-isnumber-contains)

## **Read the guide**

- [**Conditional formatting in Excel: highlight cells and rows with rules and formulas**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/conditional-formatting-excel)

## **Questions**

<details>

<summary>

### How do I check if a cell contains a word?

</summary>

Use =ISNUMBER(SEARCH("word",A2)). SEARCH returns the position of the word or

</details>

<details>

<summary>

### Why does ISNUMBER say FALSE when the cell shows a number?

</summary>

The number is stored as text, which often happens with imported or pasted data. Convert it with VALUE, or multiply it by 1, and ISNUMBER returns TRUE.

</details>

## **Related functions**

- [**ISTEXT**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/istext)
- [**ISBLANK**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/isblank)
- [**SEARCH**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/search)
- [**VALUE**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/value)

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