While there are a lot of other instances where you’d see a #REF! error, the solutions we discuss here should help you get rid of all #REF! errors that you see on your worksheet. Examplesįollowing are some examples of when you’d see a #REF! error.

You may also see a #REF! error because you’ve copied a formula with relative references to another worksheet where those references are rendered invalid. Most commonly, you’ll see a #REF! error because you had referenced a cell, column, row, or a sheet, and subsequently removed it from your workbook. #REF! error occurs when you’ve referenced an element on your worksheet or workbook that no longer exists. To understand this more clearly, refer to example 1.

For instance, if you’ve summed up cells C1 to C5 in cell C6, and then any one of the cells from C1 to C5 gets deleted, the formula in C6 will return a #REF! error. Clear the #REF! Error from the WorksheetĪ #REF! error is an Excel error that tells you that one or more of the references used in your formula is invalid. Copying a formula with relative cell references