Excel: Suppressing #DIV/0! Error Messages in Division

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q48165
Summary

When dividing by 0 (zero) or a blank cell, Microsoft Excel displays the error message "#DIV/0!". To keep this error message from appearing, use the following formula in place of the standard division formula: 

   =IF(denominator=0,"",numerator/denominator)
Numerator refers to the cell to be divided. Denominator refers to the cell that is the divisor.

This formula checks to see if the denominator equals zero (or is blank); if so, a blank cell is displayed.

For example, if you want to divide cell A1 by cell A2 and put the result in cell A3, the formula in cell A3 would be: 

   =IF(A2=0,"",A1/A2)
Cell A3 will appear blank if cell A2 is blank or contains a zero. Otherwise, A3 will contain the result of the formula A1/A2.

MORE INFORMATION

To display other information in the cell, type the necessary information in the formula where the "" (quotation marks) are between the two commas. If you want to display text, type it between these quotation marks. If you want to display anything else (values), type it in place of the quotation marks.

Note: If the denominator is a nonzero value, the division is calculated.

KBCategory: kbother
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Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.20 3.00

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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