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Excel & Spreadsheet Error Atlas

Use an error code as a diagnostic clue, not something to hide immediately. Each card gives likely causes, first checks and a safer example pattern.

10 error guides
#N/A

No matching value was found

A lookup or match could not find the requested item.

Common causes

  • Lookup value differs by spaces, case-sensitive logic or data type
  • Lookup range does not contain the requested key
  • Approximate/exact match settings do not match the data

First checks

  • Test the lookup value with a simple equality check
  • Use TRIM/CLEAN when imported text is suspicious
  • Run the inner lookup before wrapping it in IFNA or IFERROR
=IFNA(XLOOKUP(A2,IDs,Prices),"Not found")
#VALUE!

A value has the wrong type

The formula received text, a range or another value type where something else was expected.

Common causes

  • Text is being used in arithmetic
  • A function expects one cell but receives a multi-cell range
  • A date or number was imported as text

First checks

  • Check suspect cells with ISNUMBER and ISTEXT
  • Evaluate smaller pieces of the formula separately
  • Convert text deliberately instead of masking the error
=IF(ISNUMBER(A2),A2*B2,"Check A2")
#REF!

A reference is invalid

The formula points to a cell, range or sheet reference that no longer resolves.

Common causes

  • Rows, columns or sheets were deleted
  • A copied formula points outside a valid range
  • An external workbook reference broke

First checks

  • Undo recent structural changes if possible
  • Search formulas for literal #REF! tokens
  • Restore the intended range manually rather than hiding the error
=INDEX(C:C,MATCH(E2,A:A,0))
#DIV/0!

Division by zero or blank

A denominator evaluates to zero or an empty value treated as zero.

Common causes

  • The divisor cell is zero
  • The divisor is blank
  • A prior calculation unexpectedly returns zero

First checks

  • Inspect the denominator before adding error handling
  • Decide whether zero should return blank, zero or a warning
  • Use a conditional test when zero has business meaning
=IF(B2=0,"Check divisor",A2/B2)
#NAME?

A name is not recognized

Excel cannot resolve a function name, named range or unquoted text token.

Common causes

  • Function name is misspelled or localized
  • Text is missing quotation marks
  • A named range or custom function is unavailable

First checks

  • Check function spelling and locale
  • Confirm text literals are quoted
  • Open Name Manager when a workbook name is involved
=IF(A2="Open",1,0)
#NUM!

A numeric operation is not valid

A numeric input or iterative result falls outside the function’s accepted domain.

Common causes

  • A math function receives an impossible input
  • IRR/RATE style iterations cannot converge
  • A number is outside an accepted range

First checks

  • Check the documented domain for the function
  • Test inputs individually for extreme values
  • Avoid hiding the error until the invalid input is understood
=IF(A2>=0,SQRT(A2),"Negative input")
#NULL!

A range intersection is invalid

The formula uses the intersection operator where the referenced ranges do not intersect.

Common causes

  • A space was used accidentally between references
  • Two intended ranges have no overlapping cells
  • Range operators were typed incorrectly

First checks

  • Inspect spaces between cell/range references
  • Use comma or semicolon when you meant separate arguments
  • Simplify the reference expression and retest
=SUM(A1:A10,C1:C10)
#SPILL!

A dynamic array cannot expand

A dynamic-array result needs cells that are blocked or otherwise unavailable.

Common causes

  • Non-empty cells block the spill area
  • Merged cells overlap the output area
  • The formula sits inside a context that restricts spilling

First checks

  • Select the error cell and inspect the expected spill range
  • Clear only cells that are safe to clear
  • Move the formula to an open range when necessary
=FILTER(A2:D100,D2:D100="Open","No rows")
#CALC!

A dynamic calculation has no valid result

A dynamic-array formula reaches a state the spreadsheet cannot return normally.

Common causes

  • FILTER has no result and no fallback
  • Nested array logic produces an unsupported shape
  • A calculation depends on unsupported array behavior

First checks

  • Provide an explicit empty-result value where supported
  • Test inner array expressions separately
  • Reduce the formula to the smallest failing array operation
=FILTER(A2:D100,D2:D100="Open","No matches")
#FIELD!

A linked-data field cannot be resolved

A formula references a field that is missing or unavailable for a linked data type.

Common causes

  • Field name changed or is misspelled
  • The linked data type lost its connection
  • The current value does not expose that field

First checks

  • Inspect the available fields for the linked value
  • Refresh the data type connection
  • Use IFERROR only after confirming the field is optional
=IFERROR(A2.Price,"Field unavailable")
Debugging principle: remove broad IFERROR wrappers while diagnosing a problem. Once the underlying formula works, add user-friendly error handling only where it represents an expected condition.