10 Most Important Google Sheets Functions

Google Sheets functions are essential tools that help you analyze, calculate, and manipulate data efficiently. Whether you’re managing budgets, tracking sales, or preparing reports, knowing the right functions can save time and improve accuracy.

From conditional calculations to lookup formulas, these functions let you perform complex operations with simple commands. Below, we’ll cover the most commonly used functions in Google Sheets, complete with examples and practical tips to make your spreadsheets more dynamic and professional.

Google Sheets QUERY

The Google Sheets QUERY function lets you extract and filter data from a table using SQL-like statements. For example:
=QUERY(A1:D100, "SELECT A, B WHERE C > 50")
This formula selects columns A and B where the value in column C is greater than 50. QUERY in Google Sheets is powerful for summarizing data, generating reports, and combining multiple conditions without using multiple formulas. It’s especially helpful when working with large datasets or multiple sheets.

ARRAYFORMULA in Google Sheets

The ARRAYFORMULA in Google Sheets allows you to apply a formula to an entire range of cells instead of one cell at a time. For example:
=ARRAYFORMULA(A2:A10*B2:B10)
This multiplies each value in column A with the corresponding value in column B. Using ArrayFormula saves time, reduces repetitive formulas, and keeps spreadsheets cleaner, especially when handling dynamic or expanding datasets.

IF Function in Google Sheets

The IF function in Google Sheets lets you make decisions based on a condition. For example:
=IF(B2>50, "Pass", "Fail")
This checks if a value in B2 is greater than 50 and returns “Pass” or “Fail” accordingly. IF in Google Sheets is essential for conditional formatting, grading, or generating custom outputs depending on data values.

COUNTIF in Google Sheets

The COUNTIF function in Google Sheets counts cells that meet a specific condition. For example:
=COUNTIF(A2:A20, ">100")
This counts all cells in the range A2:A20 with values greater than 100. COUNTIF in Google Sheets is widely used for tracking performance, identifying trends, or summarizing results based on specific criteria.

SUMIF in Google Sheets

The SUMIF function in Google Sheets adds up values that meet a certain condition. For example:
=SUMIF(B2:B20, "Apples", C2:C20)
This sums all values in column C where column B contains “Apples”. Using SUMIF in Google Sheets helps in financial analysis, sales tracking, or creating conditional totals quickly.

VLOOKUP in Google Sheets

The VLOOKUP function in Google Sheets searches for a value in a column and returns a related value from another column. For example:
=VLOOKUP("John", A2:C20, 3, FALSE)
This looks for “John” in column A and returns the value from the third column. VLOOKUP in Google Sheets is useful for cross-referencing data, retrieving records, and building automated reports.

CONCATENATE in Google Sheets

The CONCATENATE function in Google Sheets combines text from multiple cells. For example:
=CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)
This joins the values from A2 and B2 with a space in between. Concatenate in Google Sheets is helpful for merging names, addresses, or creating custom labels efficiently.

Google Sheets COUNT

The COUNT function in Google Sheets counts numeric values in a range. For example:
=COUNT(A2:A20)
This counts all numeric entries in column A. COUNT in Google Sheets is ideal for basic data validation, monitoring entries, or ensuring no values are missing in a dataset.

Google Sheets TRANSPOSE

The TRANSPOSE function in Google Sheets changes the orientation of a range from rows to columns or vice versa. For example:
=TRANSPOSE(A1:C3)
This converts your horizontal table into vertical format. Using Transpose in Google Sheets is helpful for reorganizing data, preparing dashboards, or formatting reports for better readability.

IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets

The IMPORTRANGE function in Google Sheets allows you to import data from another spreadsheet. For example:
=IMPORTRANGE("spreadsheet_url", "Sheet1!A1:D20")
This imports the range A1:D20 from a different spreadsheet. IMPORTRANGE in Google Sheets is useful for consolidating data from multiple sources or creating master dashboards without manual copy-paste.