Formula Errors

How to Return 1, 0, or Blank Instead of TRUE or FALSE in Excel

Natalie Taylor Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to format a logical date comparison formula to output numeric values (1 or 0) or an empty cell rather than the default boolean TRUE/FALSE text.

How to Return 1, 0, or Blank Instead of TRUE or FALSE in Excel

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking whether a specific date falls between a check-in and check-out date, and needing the result in a clean, numeric or blank format.
Observed behavior: By default, the AND function returns TRUE or FALSE, which requires conversion to achieve the desired 1, 0, or blank output.

Before you start

Verify that your check-in and check-out date cells are formatted as dates rather than text, as text-formatted dates can cause logical formulas to fail or return inaccurate results.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the IF Function to Return 1, 0, or a Blank Cell

Wrap your logical AND statement inside an IF function to explicitly assign what value should appear when the condition is met and when it is not.

The IF function is the most versatile way to customize boolean outputs in Excel. By combining it with the AND function, you can evaluate multiple conditions and return custom numbers, text, or even nothing at all.

Select the Result Cell

Click on the cell where you want the 1, 0, or blank result to appear.

Enter the Formula for 1 or 0

To output a 1 for TRUE and a 0 for FALSE, type the formula: =IF(AND($D10<=$F$9,$E10>$F$9),1,0)

Enter the Formula for 1 or Blank

To output a 1 for TRUE and leave the cell completely blank for FALSE, modify the formula to: =IF(AND($D10<=$F$9,$E10>$F$9),1,"")

Apply to Other Cells

Press Enter to execute the formula, then click and drag the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) down to apply it to the rest of your data.

Use the IF Function to Return 1, 0, or a Blank Cell

Understanding the Blank Syntax: Using a set of empty double quotes ("") in the third argument of the IF function tells Excel to return a blank text string, which makes the cell appear empty.

Solution 2

Use the Double Unary Operator for a Shorter Formula

If you only need to return 1 or 0 (and not blanks), using the double unary operator (--) is a quicker, more concise method.

Easily Manage Complex Formulas with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet fully supports advanced logical formulas, including IF and AND, allowing you to convert logical tests to custom values seamlessly. Enjoy a clean interface, robust formula auditing tools, and full compatibility.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your workbook containing the date comparison data.
2. Enter the Logical Formula: Select the target cell and type your preferred IF or double-unary formula to check the dates.
3. Apply and Copy: Press Enter to confirm, then drag the fill handle downward to copy the logic across your rows.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel formulas, functions, and file formats.Built-in formula evaluation tools for debugging complex logical tests and nested IFs.Completely free to use with a lightweight installation and fast processing speeds.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IF formula return the text 'FALSE' instead of a blank cell?

If you omit the third argument in the IF function (e.g., =IF(condition, 1)), Excel defaults to displaying the word 'FALSE' when the condition is not met. To ensure a blank cell, you must explicitly add empty quotes ("") as the value_if_false argument.

Can I use this method to return text strings instead of numbers?

Yes. By modifying the IF function, you can return any text you need. Simply place your desired text inside quotation marks. For example, =IF(AND(A1>0, B1>0), "Valid", "Invalid") will output custom text based on the logical result.

How do I easily count how many times '1' appears after converting TRUE/FALSE?

Once you have converted your boolean results to 1s and 0s, you can use a simple SUM function on that column (e.g., =SUM(G2:G100)). Since TRUE is 1 and FALSE is 0, the sum will perfectly equal the total number of true conditions.

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