Excel ISTEXT Function: Syntax, Examples and Tips

Part of the free Module 5: Excel Formulas and Functions · Function 51 of 105 · Full Excel course

The Excel ISTEXT function returns TRUE when a value is a text string and FALSE for numbers, dates, logical values, errors and empty cells. ISTEXT in Excel is the quickest way to find labels hiding in a numeric column, to detect numbers stored as text after an import, and to branch formulas depending on whether a cell holds words or values.

Table of Contents

ISTEXT syntax

=ISTEXT(value)

Arguments

Argument	Required	Meaning
value	Required	The cell, expression or formula result to test.

Anything Excel stores as a string counts, including “123” typed with a leading apostrophe, a formula returning “” (empty text), and text produced by TEXT() or CONCAT().

Step-by-step example

=ISTEXT(A1)

Excel reads A1. Suppose it contains the word Excel.
The value is a string.
ISTEXT returns TRUE. With 10 in A1 the result is FALSE, with a date FALSE, with an empty cell FALSE, and with a formula that returns “” the result is TRUE.

Practical use cases

1. Find text in an amount column

=IF(ISTEXT(B2), "Check entry", "")

2. Count text cells

=SUMPRODUCT(--ISTEXT(A2:A100))
=COUNTIF(A2:A100, "*")

COUNTIF with a wildcard gives the same count in one step.

3. Detect numbers stored as text

=AND(ISTEXT(C2), ISNUMBER(VALUE(C2)))

TRUE marks cells that look like numbers but are strings, so SUM and VLOOKUP ignore them.

4. Highlight text in a numeric region

=ISTEXT(B2)

Apply as a conditional-formatting rule.

5. Data validation: text only

=ISTEXT(D2)

6. Choose a calculation by type

=IF(ISTEXT(E2), LEN(E2), E2*2)

7. Treat empty strings as blank

=AND(ISTEXT(F2), LEN(F2)=0)

Identifies cells whose formula returns “”, which ISBLANK misses.

Common mistakes and errors

Numeric text returns TRUE – “500” stored as text is text. Convert with VALUE or Paste Special > Multiply by 1 if you want it treated as a number.
Dates return FALSE – dates are numbers. A date typed with an apostrophe, however, is text and returns TRUE.
Errors return FALSE, not an error – ISTEXT(#N/A) is FALSE and never propagates the error.
Range in one cell (legacy Excel) – ISTEXT(A2:A100) tests only the same-row cell unless wrapped in SUMPRODUCT. Excel 365 spills the array.
Named ranges – ISTEXT(Name) tests the top-left cell (or spills in 365); it does not report whether every cell is text.

Tips and best practices

Run ISTEXT down every numeric column after an import; any TRUE is a value SUM and VLOOKUP will silently ignore.
Fix text numbers in bulk with Data > Text to Columns > Finish, or Paste Special > Multiply by 1.
Use COUNTIF(range, “*”) for quick text counts and ISTEXT inside larger array formulas.
Distinguish empty strings from blanks with AND(ISTEXT(x), LEN(x)=0) when cleaning formula output.
Use ISTEXT in data validation for name and description fields to block accidental numbers.

Related functions

ISNONTEXT – the exact opposite.
ISNUMBER – TRUE for numbers and dates.
ISBLANK – TRUE for truly empty cells.
TYPE – returns 2 for text.
Browse the Excel Formulas hub or watch videos on YouTube.com/@PKAnExcelExpert.

Frequently asked questions

Does ISTEXT return TRUE for numbers stored as text?

Yes. If a cell holds digits as a string, for example after a CSV import or with a leading apostrophe, ISTEXT returns TRUE. Convert with VALUE() when you need a real number.