Named functions vs Apps Script?

Named functions are built from native Sheets formulas; Apps Script is for advanced logic and APIs.

Should I use entire columns as arguments?

Avoid for very large sheets. Scope ranges for performance.

Can named functions spill arrays?

Yes. They behave like normal formulas and can return array results.

How do I share with my team?

Maintain a canonical library Sheet, export/import functions, and document usage.

What if I get #ERROR?

Validate inputs and add IFERROR or friendly fallbacks for lookups.

Can functions call other functions?

Yes—keep dependencies simple and document them to avoid confusion.

Google Sheets Named Functions 2025: Build Your Own Formulas

by Fahim Mahmud Chisti

Google Sheets Named Functions let you build your own reusable formulas—no Apps Script required. In 2025, they’re the fastest way to package complex logic into a simple, human‑readable function name your whole team can use. In this guide, you’ll learn what named functions are, when to use them, step‑by‑step setup, 10 copy‑paste examples, performance tips, and a rollout plan for teams. By the end, you’ll turn brittle formulas into clean functions like =SLUGIFY(A2) or =DEPENDENT_LIST(B2, Lists!A:A, Lists!B:B).

Google Sheets Named Functions 2025 hero: build your own custom formulas — Turn long formulas into short, reusable functions your team can trust.

What are Google Sheets Named Functions (and why they matter)

Named functions are custom formulas you create from existing Sheets functions (like FILTER, TEXT, REGEXREPLACE, XLOOKUP). You define inputs once, add documentation, and reuse the logic anywhere in the file (or export to use across files). They’re like macros for formulas—ideal for data cleaning, reporting templates, and onboarding new teammates.

Readable: Replace long formulas with clear names (e.g., =CLEAN_EMAIL(A2)).
Reusable: Use the same logic across tabs and files.
Maintainable: Update in one place instead of fixing dozens of cells.
Governed: Add descriptions and argument hints your team sees on hover.

Overview of Google Sheets Named Functions: components and benefits — Name your logic, define arguments, add a help description, and reuse everywhere.

When to use named functions vs alternatives

Use Named Functions when your logic is expressible with built‑in functions and needs no external API calls or loops.
Use Apps Script custom functions when you need HTTP requests, advanced logic, or cross‑file automation.
Use Named Ranges if you only need readable references, not reusable logic.

Step‑by‑step: create your first named function (CLEAN_EMAIL)

Select Data → Named functions → Start.
Click Add new function. Name it CLEAN_EMAIL. Add a description: “Lowercase email and remove stray spaces/illegal characters.”
Define arguments: addr (type: text).
In the formula box, paste:
```
=LET(
  cleaned, LOWER(TRIM(addr)),
  REGEXREPLACE(cleaned, "[^a-z0-9._%+-@]", "")
)
```
Note: If your Sheets doesn’t support LET, inline the logic:
=REGEXREPLACE(LOWER(TRIM(addr)), "[^a-z0-9._%+-@]", "")
Click Next → Create. Use it like: =CLEAN_EMAIL(A2)

Create a Google Sheets Named Function: step-by-step dialog — Data → Named functions → define name, arguments, and the formula. Add documentation your team will see.

10 copy‑paste named functions you’ll actually use

1) SLUGIFY(text)

Make URL‑friendly slugs.

=LOWER(REGEXREPLACE(TRIM(text), "[^a-zA-Z0-9]+", "-"))

2) UNIQUE_NONBLANKS(range)

Unique values, ignore blanks.

=SORT(UNIQUE(FILTER(range, LEN(range))))

3) SAFE_XLOOKUP(key, lookup_col, return_col, not_found)

Exact match with friendly fallback.

=XLOOKUP(key, lookup_col, return_col, not_found)

4) DEPENDENT_LIST(parent, keyCol, valCol)

Child list for dependent dropdowns (spill‑safe).

=IFERROR(SORT(UNIQUE(FILTER(valCol, keyCol = parent))), "")

5) TEXTJOIN_CSV(range)

Join cleaned list as comma‑separated values.

=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, FILTER(range, LEN(range)))

6) PHONE_NORMALIZE(text)

Digits‑only phone standardization.

=REGEXREPLACE(text, "[^0-9]", "")

7) DOMAIN_FROM_EMAIL(addr)

Extract domain from email.

=IFERROR(INDEX(SPLIT(LOWER(TRIM(addr)), "@"), 1, 2), "")

8) DEDUPE_TABLE(rows, dedupe_col)

Return first occurrence rows based on a key column.

=FILTER(rows, MATCH(dedupe_col, dedupe_col, 0) = ROW(dedupe_col) - ROW(INDEX(dedupe_col,1,1)) + 1)

9) LAST_NONBLANK(range)

Last populated cell in a column.

=INDEX(FILTER(range, LEN(range)), COUNTA(FILTER(range, LEN(range))))

10) ISO_WEEK_START(date)

Get the Monday of the ISO week for a date.

=date - MOD(WEEKDAY(date, 2) - 1, 7)

Examples of Google Sheets Named Functions: SLUGIFY, DEPENDENT_LIST, SAFE_XLOOKUP — Package repeatable patterns—your sheets get simpler and harder to break.

Design rules for robust named functions

Always TRIM and normalize text case (LOWER/UPPER).
Wrap lookups with clear if_not_found messages.
Add IFERROR for spill‑safe lists and user‑blank inputs.
Prefer FILTER + UNIQUE + SORT for dynamic ranges.
Document arguments; include examples in the description field.

Performance tips for 2025

Scope ranges (A2:A5000) instead of entire columns where possible.
Centralize heavy calculations with named functions; reuse results instead of duplicating formulas.
Minimize volatile constructs or repeated regex work inside massive arrays.
Test with sample data, then scale—measure recalc time when you paste thousands of rows.

Named functions vs Excel’s LAMBDA vs Apps Script

Named Functions: fastest no‑code reuse for Sheets logic; shareable via import/export.
Excel LAMBDA: similar concept in Excel; migrating logic is usually straightforward with minor syntax tweaks.
Apps Script: use for APIs, file automation, custom menus/triggers.

Team rollout and governance

Create a Library sheet tab documenting each named function (name, purpose, arguments, example).
Prefix conventions: TXT_ for text, LIST_ for lists, SAFE_ for guarded lookups.
Review changes in a copy, then import the function set to production files.
Protect the Library tab; grant edit to owners only.

Governance for Google Sheets Named Functions: library, prefixes, protection — Document, standardize, protect. Treat your function library like shared code.

Practical applications (copy these setups)

Data cleaning pipeline

=CLEAN_EMAIL(A2), =PHONE_NORMALIZE(B2), =SLUGIFY(C2)
Join results with =TEXTJOIN_CSV(D2:D) for exports.

Ops dashboards

=SAFE_XLOOKUP(E2, SKUs!A:A, SKUs!D:D, "No SKU")
Dependent filters via =DEPENDENT_LIST(B2, Catalog!A:A, Catalog!C:C)

Project templates

De‑duplicate owners: =UNIQUE_NONBLANKS(Projects!B:B)
Week anchors: =ISO_WEEK_START(TODAY())

Implementation guide: roll this out today

List 3–5 formulas teammates keep copying and breaking.
Convert each into a named function with clear arguments and examples.
Create a Library tab with a short catalog (name, purpose, sample call).
Protect the Library; train the team with a 10‑minute demo.
Export your named functions JSON and import to other Sheets you maintain.

Comparison and alternatives

Named ranges: readable references—no logic encapsulation.
QUERY: superb for SQL‑like aggregation; pair it with named functions for readable wrappers.
Macros: record UI actions but not reusable formula logic.

Recommended tools and deals

Premium spreadsheet UI kits and templates: Envato
Lifetime deals on productivity add‑ons and templates: AppSumo

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we’d use ourselves.

From our library (related guides)

Trusted sources and official docs

Google Workspace Updates: Named functions for Sheets: workspaceupdates.googleblog.com
Google Sheets Help: Data validation (for dependent lists): support.google.com/docs/answer/186103
Google Sheets Function list: support.google.com/docs/table/25273
FILTER function: support.google.com/docs/answer/3093197
UNIQUE function: support.google.com/docs/answer/3093194
REGEXREPLACE function: support.google.com/docs/answer/3098249
TEXTJOIN function: support.google.com/docs/answer/6270664
XLOOKUP function: support.google.com/docs/answer/12070175

Final recommendations

Start with 3–5 high‑impact functions (cleaning, lookups, lists).
Document arguments and include examples in the description field.
Protect your function library and export it for reuse across files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do named functions work across files?

Yes—export from one file and import into another. They’re not global by default, so export your library for reuse.

Can I edit a named function later?

Yes. Update the function once in Named functions, and all usages in that file update automatically.

What’s the difference between named functions and Apps Script custom functions?

Named functions are built from native Sheets formulas; Apps Script is JavaScript for advanced logic and APIs.

Can I use entire columns as arguments?

You can, but for large sheets it’s faster to scope ranges (e.g., A2:A5000).

How do I share named functions with my team?

Keep a canonical Sheet with your function library. Export/import to new files; add docs on a Library tab.

Do named functions support arrays and spill?

Yes. They behave like normal formulas—results can spill into adjacent cells when returning arrays.

What if a named function shows #N/A or #ERROR?

Add IFERROR and validate inputs. Provide a clear fallback string for lookups and filters.

Can I call one named function from another?

Yes. You can chain them, but keep dependencies simple and document them on your Library tab.

Is there a limit to how many named functions I can create?

Sheets enforces practical limits; dozens are fine. Keep your library curated to avoid confusion.

How close is this to Excel’s LAMBDA?

Conceptually similar—wrap logic into a reusable function. Syntax and certain helpers differ between apps.