What it does
AND returns TRUE only when every condition is true. OR returns TRUE when at least one condition is true.
Syntax or pattern
=AND(condition1, condition2) / =OR(condition1, condition2)✅
5 practical examples
1
Bonus with two conditions
Pay a bonus only when sales and rating both meet targets.
=IF(AND(B2>=10000,C2>=4),"Bonus","No bonus")AND is best when all requirements must be met.
2
Flag high-risk orders
Flag orders that are either high value or overdue.
=IF(OR(B2>5000,D2<TODAY()),"Review","OK")OR is best when any condition should trigger a result.
3
Check date range
Test whether a date is inside a reporting period.
=AND(A2>=$F$1,A2<=$G$1)Useful for helper columns and filters.
4
Accept multiple categories
Mark rows that belong to one of several categories.
=OR(C2="Hardware",C2="Software",C2="Services")OR can test several allowed values.
5
Combine AND with OR
Review orders that are large and either new or overdue.
=IF(AND(B2>1000,OR(C2="New",D2<TODAY())),"Review","OK")Parentheses make combined logic clearer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing AND with OR.
- Forgetting parentheses in combined logic.
- Using too many repeated OR tests when a lookup table would be better.
Related Excel examples
FAQ
Can AND and OR be used without IF?
Yes, they return TRUE or FALSE by themselves.