Type the >= sign between two values in a formula that starts with an equal sign, for example =A1>=B1. Excel returns TRUE when the first value is greater than or equal to the second, and FALSE when it is not. It's a comparison operator, so you get a logical value back rather than a number.
Before you start
- Every Excel formula begins with an equal sign, so the comparison goes after it.
- The operator is two characters typed together, with the greater than sign first.
- You're comparing two values, which can be typed numbers or cell references.
- What comes back is a logical value, either TRUE or FALSE.
Microsoft sets the operator out on its page about calculation operators and precedence in Excel, and everything below sticks to what that page says.
The steps
- Pick the cell for the answer.
- Type an equal sign to begin the formula.
- Enter a value or cell reference, then the >= sign, then a second value or reference.
- Press Enter and read what appears.
Microsoft's own example is =A1>=B1. If A1 holds a number at least as big as the number in B1, the cell shows TRUE. If A1 is smaller, it shows FALSE. That's the whole mechanism, and everything else is about where you use it.
Where it sits among Excel's six comparison operators
The >= sign belongs to a family of six comparison operators, and it helps to know the others so you reach for the right one.
| Operator | Means |
|---|---|
| = | Equal to |
| > | Greater than |
| < | Less than |
| >= | Greater than or equal to |
| <= | Less than or equal to |
| <> | Not equal to |
The difference between > and >= is the boundary itself. With plain greater than, a value that exactly matches the other side counts as FALSE. With greater than or equal to, an exact match counts as TRUE, which is usually what people mean when they say a score has to reach a target.
What you get back: a logical value
A comparison doesn't produce a figure. It produces a logical value, TRUE or FALSE, and that makes it a handy building block for checks. A worked example: put a target in A1 and a result in B1, then type =B1>=A1 in C1. If the result has met or beaten the target, C1 says TRUE. If it fell short, C1 says FALSE.
You can read down a column of these answers and see at a glance which results have qualified.
Reading TRUE and FALSE in practice
| A1 holds | B1 holds | =A1>=B1 shows |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | TRUE |
| 9 | 7 | TRUE |
| 6 | 7 | FALSE |
The first row is the one that surprises people. The two values are identical, and the comparison still returns TRUE, because greater than or equal to counts a tie as a pass. Only the last row, where the left value really is smaller, gives FALSE.
That tie behaviour is the reason to choose this operator over plain greater than whenever a threshold counts as met the moment you reach it, such as hitting a minimum order or a pass mark.
The catch: the order Excel works things out
Comparison operators are evaluated after the arithmetic operators and after the & text operator. So if a formula also adds, subtracts or joins text, Excel does those parts first and leaves the >= comparison until last.
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To make a part of the formula run sooner, enclose it in parentheses and Excel calculates that part first. Where operators share the same level of precedence, Excel works from left to right.
Slips to watch for
- Leaving out the opening equal sign, which means Excel doesn't treat your entry as a formula.
- Swapping the two characters round, so the equal sign comes before the greater than sign.
- Forgetting that arithmetic is worked out before the comparison, then wondering why the answer looks odd.
- Looking for a figure when the cell can only ever show TRUE or FALSE.
If you're building these into bigger checks, our guides to VLOOKUP and the TEXT function show how formulas get chained together.
Frequently asked questions
What does >= mean in Excel?
It asks whether the left value is at least as large as the right one.
Why do I see TRUE or FALSE rather than a figure?
Comparison operators hand back a logical value. A number never appears, which is by design.
Does the formula have to start with an equals sign?
Always. A formula in Excel begins with one, and the comparison follows it.
Why does my comparison misbehave in a longer formula?
Sums and text joins happen first, with the comparison last. Wrap the part you want earlier in parentheses.
How many comparison operators are there?
Six in total: equal, greater than, less than, greater than or equal, less than or equal, and not equal.
What is Microsoft's example?
=A1>=B1, which gives TRUE when A1 is at least as big as B1.
