ISNONTEXT function

ISNONTEXT returns TRUE when a value is anything except text—numbers, booleans, dates, or errors—ideal for validating data types in spreadsheets.

=ISNONTEXT(value)

Generate a ISNONTEXT formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for ISNONTEXT where ISNONTEXT is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

How to get a better answer
  • Name your columns by letter and by header: "column F (Net Value)" beats "the amount column".
  • State every condition, including the negatives — "not cancelled" changes the formula's shape.
  • Say where the data starts if it is not row 1, and whether it will grow.
  • Check the settings above match your spreadsheet: the wrong argument separator is a syntax error on your machine.

Arguments

How ISNONTEXT reads its arguments
valuerequiredISNONTEXT →
ArgumentRequiredDescription
valueRequiredAny spreadsheet value—a number, text, boolean, date, error, or cell reference. ISNONTEXT evaluates the data type of this value and returns TRUE if it is not text, FALSE if it is text.

Returns

Boolean: TRUE if the value is not text, FALSE if it is text.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Validate that on-hand inventory counts are numeric

SKUWarehouseOn HandReorder PointCost
A101NYC452012.5
=ISNONTEXT(C2)

Result:

Cell C2 contains the number 45. ISNONTEXT returns TRUE because 45 is a number, not text. This confirms the on-hand quantity is stored correctly as numeric data.

2. Verify that SKU identifiers are stored as text

SKUWarehouseOn HandReorder PointCost
A101NYC452012.5
=ISNONTEXT(A2)

Result:

Cell A2 contains "A101", which is text. ISNONTEXT returns FALSE because the value IS text, meaning the SKU is properly stored as text, not as a number.

3. Count how many values in the cost column are numeric

SKUWarehouseOn HandReorder PointCost
A101NYC452012.5
A102LA8158.75
A103CHI120305.25
A104NYC322515
=SUMPRODUCT(--ISNONTEXT(E2:E5))

Result: 4

ISNONTEXT tests each cost value in E2:E5 (12.50, 8.75, 5.25, 15.00). All are numbers, so each returns TRUE. The double-negative operator converts TRUE to 1, and SUMPRODUCT totals them to 4, confirming all costs are numeric.

Common errors

Which ISNONTEXT error are you seeing?
ISNONTEXT returned an error#NAME?
Verify the correct spelling is ISNONTEXT (no extra characters), then re-enter the formula.
#REF!
Update the cell reference to point to an existing cell in your data, such as =ISNONTEXT(C2) for the On Hand column.
#NULL!
Remove spaces and use a single cell reference: =ISNONTEXT(C2), or use OR if testing multiple cells: =OR(ISNONTEXT(C2),ISNONTEXT(D2)).
ErrorWhy it happensHow to fix it
#NAME?Typo in the function name, such as =ISNONTXT(C2) or =ISNONTEXT(C2) with an extra letter.Verify the correct spelling is ISNONTEXT (no extra characters), then re-enter the formula.
#REF!The value argument references a cell or range that has been deleted or no longer exists, like =ISNONTEXT(D2) after column D is removed.Update the cell reference to point to an existing cell in your data, such as =ISNONTEXT(C2) for the On Hand column.
#NULL!Using space (intersection) operator between ranges, such as =ISNONTEXT(C2 D2), which Excel interprets as an invalid intersection.Remove spaces and use a single cell reference: =ISNONTEXT(C2), or use OR if testing multiple cells: =OR(ISNONTEXT(C2),ISNONTEXT(D2)).

Tips and when to use something else

  • ISNONTEXT is the opposite of ISTEXT; use ISTEXT if you need to verify a value IS text instead of checking if it's not.
  • ISNONTEXT returns TRUE for numbers, booleans, dates, empty cells, and error values—anything that is not text data.
  • Combine ISNONTEXT with IF to create validation rules: =IF(ISNONTEXT(C2), "Valid—numeric", "Error—text found") to flag unexpected text in numeric columns.
  • For more detailed type checking, use ISNUMBER to check only for numbers, ISLOGICAL for booleans, or TYPE to get a numeric code for the data type.

Related functions

ISTEXTReturns TRUE if a value is text, FALSE otherwise. Use ISTEXT to validate data types or filter columns before performing calculations.ISNUMBERChecks whether a value is a number, returning TRUE for numeric values and FALSE for text, dates, blanks, and errors.ISBLANKISBLANK returns TRUE if a cell is completely empty, FALSE if it contains any value or formula, and propagates errors.ISLOGICALISLOGICAL checks whether a cell contains a TRUE or FALSE value, returning TRUE only if the value is a logical value, useful for validating data types.TYPEReturns a number indicating the data type of a value: 1 for numbers, 2 for text, 4 for logical values, 16 for errors, and 64 for arrays.

Frequently asked questions

Does ISNONTEXT return TRUE for empty cells?
Yes, ISNONTEXT returns TRUE for empty cells because they are not text. If you need to distinguish between empty and non-text, combine ISNONTEXT with NOT(ISBLANK(A1)) to exclude blanks.
Can ISNONTEXT detect if a cell contains a formula?
No, ISNONTEXT only checks the data type of the result (number, text, etc.), not whether it came from a formula or a hardcoded value. Use ISFORMULA to detect formulas separately.
What is the difference between ISNONTEXT and TYPE?
ISNONTEXT returns a simple TRUE/FALSE. TYPE returns a numeric code: 1 for numbers, 2 for text, 4 for logical, 16 for error, 64 for array. Use TYPE when you need to distinguish between multiple specific data types.
Why does ISNONTEXT return FALSE for a number that looks numeric?
A cell can display a number but be stored as text (e.g., "45" instead of 45). ISNONTEXT checks the actual stored type, not appearance. Check the cell's format or use VALUE() to convert text to numbers if needed.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17