Skip to main content

How to compare numbers but allowing a tolerance in Excel?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-11-26
A screenshot showing a comparison of two columns of numbers in Excel with a tolerance applied

In Excel, the formula =A1=B1 returns TRUE or FALSE to indicate whether two values are exactly equal. However, there are situations where you might need to compare two numbers while allowing a tolerance. For instance, you may want to check if the difference between two numbers is within ±5. This guide explains how to compare numbers with a specified tolerance range using simple formulas.

Compare two numbers but allowing a tolerance with formulas

arrow blue right bubble Compare two numbers but allowing a tolerance with formulas

The following formulas can help you to return a TRUE or FALSE when you compare two numbers with a tolerance, please do as this:

1. Enter any of the following formulas into a blank cell beside your compared cells, see screenshot:

=AND(A1<=B1+5,A1>=B1-5)

=ABS(A1-B1)<=5

Note: In these formulas: A1 and B1 are the two numbers to be compared, and the number 5 specifies the tolerance range. You can adjust these values as needed.

A screenshot of formulas used to compare numbers with a tolerance in Excel

2. Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other cells. It will return TRUE if the two numbers are within the specified tolerance range; otherwise, it will return FALSE. See screenshot:

A screenshot showing a comparison of two columns of numbers in Excel with a tolerance applied

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup  |   Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar   |  Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells   |  Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...

Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!