I’m trying to set up a conditional formatting rule in Google Sheets that will highlight empty cells with a specific color, but only when those cells appear in alternating (even-numbered) rows within my selected range.
Here’s what I tried:
- Went to Format menu
- Clicked Conditional formatting
- Set my column range in the Apply to range box
- Chose Custom formula is from the dropdown
- Used this formula:
=ISBLANK(ISEVEN(ROW()))
- Picked my desired background color
- Hit Done
But nothing happened - no cells got formatted even though there are blank cells in even rows. The conditional formatting rule shows up in the list but doesn’t actually apply any styling to my spreadsheet. I think there might be an issue with how I’m combining the ISBLANK and ISEVEN functions together. What’s the correct way to write this formula so it checks both conditions - that the cell is empty AND that it’s in an even row number?
You’re nesting the functions wrong. ISBLANK needs a cell reference, not ISEVEN’s result. Try =AND(ISBLANK(A1), ISEVEN(ROW())) if A1 is your starting cell. I ran into this same issue building conditional formatting for a project tracker - wanted to highlight missing deadlines on specific rows only. Here’s what’s happening: Google Sheets applies your custom formula to each cell individually. So for range A2:C10, it checks A2 first (ROW() = 2), then A3 (ROW() = 3), etc. Make sure your range actually starts on an even row or the pattern won’t work.
Your formula’s broken because you’re passing ISEVEN(ROW()) into ISBLANK() - that won’t work. You need AND to combine both conditions: =AND(ISBLANK(A1), ISEVEN(ROW())). Just swap A1 for your actual first cell. AND checks each condition separately - is the cell blank AND is it an even row? Both have to be true for the formatting to kick in. I ran into this same thing last year doing zebra stripes with extra conditions. Make sure your range starts from the row you actually want formatted, not row 1, or your even/odd pattern will be shifted.
you’re mixing functions wrong - ISBLANK needs a cell reference, but you’re feeding it ISEVEN’s output. try =AND(ISBLANK(A2),ISEVEN(ROW())) instead (assuming A2 is your first cell). i ran into the same thing formatting inventory sheets when i only wanted to highlight blanks on specific rows.