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CELL Function

Excel 2007+

Summary

The CELL function retrieves detailed information about any cell's formatting, position, contents, or properties. It's a powerful tool for dynamic formulas that adapt based on cell characteristics like data type, location, or applied formats.

Syntax

CELL(info_type, [reference])

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
info_type	`Text`	Yes	Required text value that determines what cell information to return. Must be enclosed in quotes.
reference	`Reference`	No	Optional cell reference. Returns info for active cell in range if multiple cells selected.

Using the CELL Function

CELL enables intelligent formulas that inspect cell properties before processing. Perfect for conditional calculations, dynamic sheet references, and format-aware logic that adapts to workbook structure.

Common CELL Examples

Check Data Type Before Calculation

=IF(CELL("type",A1)="v",A1*2,0)

Multiplies A1 by 2 only if it contains a numeric value ("v"), returns 0 for text or blank.

Get Current Cell Address

=CELL("address")

Returns address of currently selected cell as text (unreliable without reference).

Extract Row and Column Numbers

="Row: "&CELL("row",B10)&", Column: "&CELL("col",B10)

Displays row 10, column 2 for cell B10.

Check Number Format

=IF(LEFT(CELL("format",C5),1)="C","Currency","Other")

Identifies if C5 uses currency formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Without a reference argument, CELL uses the currently selected cell, which changes during recalculation.

Returns "v" for values/numbers, "l" for text labels, "b" for blank cells.

Technically yes, but strongly recommended to include it for consistent results across platforms and recalculation.

Common Errors and Solutions

#VALUE! error

Cause: Invalid info_type text or incorrect reference

Solution: Verify info_type spelling and enclose in double quotes. Use valid cell references.

Unexpected results on recalculation

Cause: Missing reference argument uses current selection

Solution: Always specify the reference argument explicitly.

#NAME? error in different languages

Cause: Language-specific info_type values

Solution: Use CODE or CHAR functions for language-independent alternatives.

Notes

info_type values are case-sensitive and language-dependent
Many info_type values unsupported in Excel Online/Mobile/Starter
CELL("format") requires F9 recalculation after format changes
Use ADDRESS function for more reliable cell reference generation
Volatile function - recalculates every time worksheet changes

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365

Not available in: Excel for web (limited support), Excel Mobile (limited support), Excel Starter (limited support)

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+