How to Use the OR Function in Excel

The OR function in Excel checks whether at least one condition is TRUE. If any condition you test is true, the OR function returns TRUE. If all conditions are false, it returns FALSE. This makes OR especially useful for logical tests, decision-making formulas, conditional formatting, and situations where multiple possible criteria can satisfy a condition.

In This Guide, You’ll Learn

• What the OR function does
• The syntax and arguments of OR
• How to test multiple conditions in Excel
• How to combine OR with IF formulas
• Real-world examples of the OR function
• Common OR mistakes and how to fix them

What is the OR Function in Excel?

The OR function evaluates multiple conditions and checks whether at least one of them is true.

If any condition evaluates to TRUE, Excel returns TRUE. If every condition is FALSE, Excel returns FALSE.

The OR function is commonly used with the IF function to build more advanced logical formulas.

For example, you could use OR to:

• Approve an employee if they meet either sales goals or customer satisfaction targets
• Flag inventory if stock is either too low or discontinued
• Identify students who passed based on multiple grading conditions
• Highlight overdue accounts or missed payments

OR Function Syntax

=OR(logical1, logical2, ...)

Argument Definitions

• logical1 — The first condition to test.
• logical2 — Additional conditions to evaluate (optional).

You can include up to 255 logical tests inside the OR function.

Each condition must evaluate to either TRUE or FALSE.

Example Dataset Used in This Tutorial

You can download the sample data we’ll be using in this tutorial by clicking on this link—> OR Function Data

Basic OR Function

Suppose you want to determine whether a student passed if they scored above 70 on either Exam 1 or Exam 2.

Use this formula:

=OR(B2>70,C2>70)

Excel checks whether either exam score is greater than 70.

If at least one score meets the requirement, the result is TRUE.

Using OR with Text Conditions

You can also test text values.

Imagine you want to identify customers in either the Gold or Platinum membership tier.

Use this formula:

=OR(B2="Gold",B2="Platinum")

Excel checks whether the membership level matches either condition.

Combining OR with IF

The OR function becomes much more powerful when combined with IF.

Suppose employees qualify for a bonus if they either:

• Reach $10,000 in sales, OR
• Receive a customer rating above 90%

Use this formula:

=IF(OR(B2>=10000,C2>=90),"Bonus","No Bonus")

This formula works like this:

1. OR checks whether either condition is true
2. IF evaluates the result
3. If TRUE → “Bonus”
4. If FALSE → “No Bonus”

OR with Dates or Deadlines

The OR function can help identify overdue items.

Suppose a project needs attention if:

• It is marked Late, OR
• The due date has already passed

Formula:

=OR(B2="Late",C2<TODAY())

This instantly flags projects requiring action.

Common OR Function Mistakes

Forgetting Quotation Marks for Text

Incorrect:

=OR(A2=Gold,A2=Platinum)

Correct:

=OR(A2="Gold",A2="Platinum")

Text values must always appear inside quotation marks.

Confusing OR with AND

Remember:

• OR → at least one condition must be true
• AND → all conditions must be true

Example:

=OR(A1>50,B1>50)

Only one condition must pass.

But:

=AND(A1>50,B1>50)

Both conditions must pass.

Using Too Many Separate IF Statements

Instead of this:

=IF(A1="Gold","Yes",IF(A1="Platinum","Yes","No"))

Use OR:

=IF(OR(A1="Gold",A1="Platinum"),"Yes","No")

This makes formulas easier to read and maintain.

Once you understand OR, you can combine it with functions like IF, AND, and IFS to create much more advanced Excel formulas.

Example Dataset Used in This Tutorial

You can download the sample data we’ll be using in this tutorial by clicking on this link—> OR Function Data

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