How to check if the number is prime number in Excel?

As we all known, a prime number is a natural number which contains only two distinct natural number divisors: One and itself. If you have a list of numbers in a worksheet, how could you check if the numbers are prime numbers?

Check if a number is prime number with array formula

Check if a number is prime number with User Defined Function

Check if a number is prime number with array formula

The following formula can help you identify the number whether it is a prime number or not, please do as this:

1. Enter the following formula into a blank cell – C2 for example beside your data:

=IF(A2=2,"Prime",IF(AND(MOD(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("2:"&ROUNDUP(SQRT(A2),0))))<>0),"Prime","Not Prime")) (A2 is the cell contains the number that you want to check), and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together, and you will get the result, if the number is prime, it will display “Prime” in the cell, if not, “Not Prime” will be displayed, see screenshot:

2. Then select the cell C2, and drag the fill handle down to the cells which you want to apply this formula, and all the numbers will be identified if is prime number or not. See screenshot:

Check if a number is prime number with User Defined Function

The following User Defined Function also can help you to check the numbers if prime or not, please do as follows:

1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.

VBA code: Check if a number is prime or not:

Function CheckPrime(Numb As Single) As Boolean
'Updateby Extendoffice
    Dim X As Long
    If Numb < 2 Or (Numb <> 2 And Numb Mod 2 = 0) _
     Or Numb <> Int(Numb) Then Exit Function
    For X = 3 To Sqr(Numb) Step 2
        If Numb Mod X = 0 Then Exit Function
    Next
    CheckPrime = True
End Function

3. Then save and close this code, go back to the worksheet, and enter this formula: =checkprime(A2) into a blank cell beside your number list, and then drag the fill handle down to the cells which you want to contain this formula, if the number is prime number, it will display TRUE, if not, it will display FALSE, see screenshot: