Test for Even or Odd with ISEVEN / ISODD

Excel Formulas › Information

All versionsISEVEN

Flag even or odd numbers — for alternating logic, every-other-row rules, or parity checks. ISEVEN and ISODD return TRUE/FALSE directly.

Quick formula: is the number in A2 even?
=ISEVEN(A2)
Returns TRUE for even, FALSE for odd. ISODD is the reverse. They ignore any fractional part.

Functions used (tap for the full reference guide):

ISEVENISODD

The example

Numbers tested for parity.

AB
1NumberEven?
24TRUE
37FALSE

The formula

Parity as TRUE/FALSE:

=ISEVEN(A2) // TRUE for even numbers

How it works

Direct parity tests:

  1. ISEVEN(number) is TRUE for even, ISODD for odd.
  2. They truncate any decimals first, so 4.9 is treated as 4 (even).
  3. Equivalent to MOD(A2, 2) = 0 — useful inside other formulas.
  4. Common use: alternate-row shading =ISODD(ROW()), or pairing rows in two columns.

Every-other-row banding uses =ISEVEN(ROW()) in conditional formatting. For grouping items into pairs or alternating actions, ISODD/ISEVEN on a counter is cleaner than a MOD comparison.

Try it: interactive demo

Live demo

Enter a number.

Variations

Is odd

Reverse:

=ISODD(A2)

MOD version

Equivalent:

=MOD(A2, 2) = 0

Band every other row

CF rule:

=ISEVEN(ROW())

Pitfalls & errors

Decimals truncate. ISEVEN(4.9) is TRUE (treats it as 4). Round first if that’s not intended.

Negatives. Parity works on negatives too (−4 is even), but the truncation still applies.

Text errors. Non-numeric input returns #VALUE!.

Practice workbook

📊
Download the free Test for Even or Odd with ISEVEN / ISODD practice workbook
An even/odd sheet with the ISODD, MOD, and banding variants, plus 4 challenges with answers. No sign-up required.

Frequently asked questions

How do I test if a number is even or odd in Excel?
Use =ISEVEN(A2) for even (TRUE/FALSE) and =ISODD(A2) for odd. They're equivalent to MOD(A2,2)=0.
How do I shade every other row using parity?
Use a conditional-formatting formula rule =ISEVEN(ROW()).
How does ISEVEN handle decimals?
It truncates the fractional part first, so 4.9 is treated as 4 (even).

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Related formulas: MOD function · Highlight every Nth row · Banded rows

Function references: ISEVEN · ISODD