FORMULATEXT Function in Excel: Show a Formula as Text

FORMULATEXT Function in Excel: Show a Formula as Text featured illustration

📎 This article includes 1 downloadable practice file ↓

⏱ 2 min readUpdated 28 September 2026

LookupLevel: IntermediateAvailable in: Excel 2013+

In this article
  1. Syntax
  2. Examples
  3. Example 1
  4. Common errors and fixes
  5. FORMULATEXT in practice
  6. Where you will use it
  7. Worked example
  8. Mistakes people make
  9. Related functions
  10. Continue learning

FORMULATEXT displays the formula of another cell — perfect for documenting models and training sheets.

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Syntax

=FORMULATEXT(reference)
Argument What it means
reference A cell containing a formula.

Examples

Example 1

=FORMULATEXT(C5)

Shows =SUMIFS(…) next to the result so reviewers see the logic.

Common errors and fixes

You see Why, and the fix
#N/A The referenced cell has a value, not a formula.

FORMULATEXT in practice

Where you will use it

  • Show the formula next to its result in training files
  • Audit a model
  • Document calculations

Worked example

ValueFormulaResult
10=FORMULATEXT(C2)=A2*2
20=FORMULATEXT(C3)=A3*2
30=FORMULATEXT(C4)=A4*2

Results calculated in Excel. Column C holds =A*2; FORMULATEXT shows that formula.

Mistakes people make

MistakeWhat to do instead
Pointing to a value cell#N/A if the cell has no formula
Long formulasWrap text so it's readable

ISFORMULA · CELL

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📎 Practice files for this article

  • 📗
    Practice workbook: Lookup & reference17 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.
    ⬇ XLSX · 35 KB

Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.

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