`IF` statement with 3 possible answers each bas…

Q: Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #257?

The pattern one rank above is “Data extraction with Excel”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

The Problem (Q-score 4, ranked #258th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2010

I have 3 ranges of numbers and the answer depends on the range.

75-79=0.255

80-84=0.327

85+  =0.559

I tried to create an equation that accounts for the ranges, however Excel states that I have entered too many arguments for this function. Below is the equation that I entered that is not working. (X2 contains the number)

=IF(X2=75,X2<=79,0.255,IF(X2=80,X2<=84,0.327,IF(X2>=85,0.559,0)))

I also tried to enter the range of numbers into another sheet – Age, and got an error #Value!.

=IF(X2=Age!A1:A5,0.257,IF(X2=Age!A6:A10,0.327,IF(X2=Age!A11:A33,0.559,0)))

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 303 Excel VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds niche answer (below median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.

The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+7)

Verbal answer — walkthrough without a code block

Note: the verified answer is a prose walkthrough. If you need a runnable sample, check Excel VBA entries ranked in the top 10 of the same archive.

=IF(X2>=85,0.559,IF(X2>=80,0.327,IF(X2>=75,0.255,-1)))

Explanation:

=IF(X2>=85,                  'If the value is in the highest bracket
      0.559,                 'Use the appropriate number
      IF(X2>=80,             'Otherwise, if the number is in the next highest bracket
           0.327,            'Use the appropriate number
           IF(X2>=75,        'Otherwise, if the number is in the next highest bracket
              0.255,         'Use the appropriate number
              -1             'Otherwise, we're not in any of the ranges (Error)
             )
        )
   )

When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #258th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 98% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2010 and 2026

The answer is 16 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

help
Frequently Asked Questions

This is a below-median answer — when does it still fit?
expand_more

Answer score +7 vs the Excel VBA archive median ~4; this entry is niche. The score plus 4 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+4) means the asker and 6 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

The answer has no code block — how do I turn it into a snippet?
expand_more

Use the walkthrough above as a checklist, then open a top-10 Excel VBA archive entry for a concrete starting template you can adapt.

This answer is 16 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
expand_more

Published 2010, which is 16 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Excel VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #257?
expand_more

The pattern one rank above is “Data extraction with Excel”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 4, Answer-score 7, original post 2010, ranked #258th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

`IF` statement with 3 possible answers each based on 3 different ranges