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In this article
LET assigns names to calculations inside a formula, so long formulas become readable and repeated parts are calculated once.
Syntax
=LET(name1, value1, [name2, value2, ...], calculation)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
name1, value1 |
A name and what it stands for. |
calculation |
The final result, using the names. |
Examples
Example 1
=LET(total, SUM(B2:B13), IF(total>100000, total*0.9, total))Discount only on large totals; SUM runs once.
Power combo
=LET(n, A2, first, TEXTBEFORE(n," "), last, TEXTAFTER(n," ",-1), last&", "&first)“Asha Kumari Verma” → “Verma, Asha”.
LET in practice
Where you will use it
- Name parts of a long formula
- Calculate once, use many times
- Readable models
Worked example
| Price | Qty | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 4 | =LET(sub,A2*B2,gst,sub*0.18,sub+gst) | 1180 |
| 1200 | 2 | =LET(sub,A3*B3,gst,sub*0.18,sub+gst) | 2832 |
| 99 | 10 | =LET(sub,A4*B4,gst,sub*0.18,sub+gst) | 1168.2 |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Names that look like cells | Avoid names like A1 or TAX1 |
| Last argument | The final calculation must come last |
Related functions
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📎 Practice files for this article
- 📗Practice workbook: Logic, LET & LAMBDA17 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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