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Fix the #SPILL! error
Excel onlyWhat #SPILL! means
#SPILL! is a modern Excel error. A dynamic-array formula (like UNIQUE, FILTER, or SORT) needs to "spill" its results into the cells below or beside it, but something is in the way, so it cannot.
Common causes
- A cell in the spill range already contains a value or another formula.
- The spill range runs into the edge of the worksheet or a merged cell.
- A previous spill or manual entry occupies part of the output area.
- The formula sits inside an Excel Table, which does not allow spilling.
Example fix
Broken
=UNIQUE(A2:A100)Fixed
=UNIQUE(A2:A100)The formula is correct — clear the occupied cells in the highlighted spill range below it.
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How to fix it
- 1Click the formula cell — Excel highlights the spill range with a dashed border so you can see what is blocked.
- 2Delete or move whatever sits inside that highlighted range.
- 3Unmerge any merged cells in the spill area.
- 4Move the formula out of an Excel Table if it needs to spill, since Tables block dynamic arrays.
- 5If you only want a single result, anchor the input with @ or wrap it so it does not spill.
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Frequently asked
Does Google Sheets have #SPILL!?
No. Google Sheets uses ARRAYFORMULA and shows a different message ("Array result was not expanded...") when output is blocked.
Why does my formula spill error inside a Table?
Excel Tables do not support dynamic arrays. Move the spilling formula to a normal range outside the Table.