Does ISODD work with negative numbers?

Yes. Negative odd numbers like -5, -101, or -2023 return TRUE, while negative even numbers like -4, -200, or -2024 return FALSE. The sign does not affect parity checking.

How do I use ISODD to highlight alternating rows in conditional formatting?

Apply the formula rule =ISODD(ROW()) to your data range. This highlights all odd-numbered rows, creating a zebra-stripe effect for readability. Adjust fill color and apply to your maintenance table.

What's the difference between ISODD and ISEVEN?

ISODD returns TRUE for odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 101, etc.) and FALSE for even numbers. ISEVEN does the opposite: TRUE for even numbers, FALSE for odd. Use whichever makes your formula more intuitive.

Do decimal numbers affect how ISODD evaluates parity?

ISODD truncates decimals to their integer part before checking: 45230.7 becomes 45230 (even), and 12501.3 becomes 12501 (odd). Rounding is not applied, only truncation toward zero.

ISODD function

ISODD returns TRUE if a number is odd, FALSE if even—use it to filter, validate, or categorize numeric data by parity for analysis and reporting.

=ISODD(number)

Generate a ISODD formula

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

Arguments

How ISODD reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
number	Required	Required. Any integer or decimal value; decimals truncate to integer before evaluation. Non-numeric values (text, errors) produce #VALUE! error.

Returns

Boolean value: TRUE for odd numbers, FALSE for even numbers.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Flag odd-numbered maintenance records

Vehicle	Odometer	Cost
Truck-001	45230	250
Van-002	12501	1500
Truck-003	67543	375

=ISODD(ROW())

Result: FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE

ROW() returns the current row number. Row 2 produces FALSE (even), row 3 produces TRUE (odd), row 4 produces TRUE (odd), row 5 produces FALSE (even). This detects record sequences or alternating patterns in maintenance logs.

2. Identify vehicles with odd odometer readings

Vehicle	Odometer
Truck-001	45230
Van-002	12501
Truck-003	67543
Van-004	23448

=ISODD(B2)

Result: FALSE, TRUE, TRUE, FALSE

Odometer 45,230 ends in 0 (even), returning FALSE. Odometer 12,501 ends in 1 (odd), returning TRUE. Odometer 67,543 ends in 3 (odd), returning TRUE. Odometer 23,448 ends in 8 (even), returning FALSE. Flag unusual mileage patterns for targeted maintenance scheduling.

3. Highlight maintenance costs that are odd amounts

Service Date	Cost
2024-01-15	250
2024-01-20	1500
2024-02-01	375
2024-02-10	200

=ISODD(D2)

Result: FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE

Cost 250 is even (ends in 0), returning FALSE. Cost 1500 is even, returning FALSE. Cost 375 is odd (ends in 5), returning TRUE. Cost 200 is even, returning FALSE. Flag odd-dollar expenses for accounting audits or anomaly detection.

Common errors

Which ISODD error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#VALUE!	Passing a text string directly as the argument: =ISODD("text")	Ensure the argument is a numeric value or references a cell containing only numbers, never text values.
#VALUE!	Referencing a cell containing text, such as the Garage column: =ISODD(E2) where E2="Downtown"	Reference only numeric columns like Odometer or Cost, or convert text to a number first using VALUE() if applicable.
#N/A	The input cell contains #N/A error from another formula, such as a failed VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP	Wrap the formula with IFERROR or IFNA to handle errors: =IFERROR(ISODD(B2),"Error") or =IFNA(ISODD(B2),FALSE)

Tips and when to use something else

ISODD returns FALSE for all even numbers, including zero and negative even numbers like -4.
To check for even numbers instead, use ISEVEN—it returns the opposite boolean value, making the two functions complementary.
Combine ISODD with IF for conditional text: =IF(ISODD(B2),"Odd Mileage","Even Mileage") creates readable labels for inspection workflows.
ISODD truncates decimals to their integer value before checking parity: 12.9 is treated as 12 (even), not rounded to 13.

Related functions

ISEVENISEVEN returns TRUE if a number is even, FALSE if odd, making it useful for identifying parity in datasets for grouping or filtering.ISNUMBERChecks whether a value is a number, returning TRUE for numeric values and FALSE for text, dates, blanks, and errors.IFThe IF function returns one value if a condition is true and another (or nothing) if it is false, letting you branch logic in a cell.IFERRORIFERROR returns the result of a formula unless that formula generates an error, in which case it returns a user-specified alternative value.ROWROW returns the row number of a given cell or range, or the row of the formula itself when no reference is supplied.

Frequently asked questions

Does ISODD work with negative numbers?: Yes. Negative odd numbers like -5, -101, or -2023 return TRUE, while negative even numbers like -4, -200, or -2024 return FALSE. The sign does not affect parity checking.
How do I use ISODD to highlight alternating rows in conditional formatting?: Apply the formula rule =ISODD(ROW()) to your data range. This highlights all odd-numbered rows, creating a zebra-stripe effect for readability. Adjust fill color and apply to your maintenance table.
What's the difference between ISODD and ISEVEN?: ISODD returns TRUE for odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 101, etc.) and FALSE for even numbers. ISEVEN does the opposite: TRUE for even numbers, FALSE for odd. Use whichever makes your formula more intuitive.
Do decimal numbers affect how ISODD evaluates parity?: ISODD truncates decimals to their integer part before checking: 45230.7 becomes 45230 (even), and 12501.3 becomes 12501 (odd). Rounding is not applied, only truncation toward zero.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17