# n8n Filter Node Examples: Skip Rows You Don't Want > How the n8n Filter node keeps only matching items: is not empty, equals, contains, number and date conditions, and when to use If instead. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/n8n-filter-node-examples · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Quick answer The [n8n Filter node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/filter-node) passes on only the items that match its [conditions](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/conditional-logic) and quietly drops the rest, so the nodes after it never see them. Set **value1** to the field you want to test, pick an operator such as **is not empty** or **is equal to**, and click **Execute step** to see how many items survive. In the free [Daily Job Alerts](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-daily-job-alerts-google-sheets-gmail) lesson, a Filter on the Tech column drops the one job with no tech, so six rows become five emails. Last updated October 20, 2026 [Take the free module →](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/n8n-jump-start/14)Module 14 of the free [n8n Jump Start](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/n8n-jump-start) course, about 10 minutes. No account needed. By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 20, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026 · 3 min read n8n · Filter · Examples ## What does the Filter node do? It checks every item against your conditions. Items that pass go to the next node; items that fail are dropped. There's only one output. The glossary has a short [Filter node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/filter-node) entry. ## How is it set up in the lesson? Rapid Flow Plumbing's sheet has six jobs; the last one has no tech yet. 1. Click the **+** after Google Sheets, type **filter** and choose **Filter**. 2. In **value1**, paste `{{ $json.Tech }}`. 3. Open the operator dropdown (it says **is equal to**) and under **String** choose **is not empty**. 4. Click **Execute step**. Six rows in, **5 items** out. One Gmail node then runs five times, one email per job, and you never write a loop. ## Ten Filter conditions for office workflows | Keep items where | value1 | Operator | value2 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | A tech is assigned | `{{ $json.Tech }}` | String: is not empty | | | Status is Open | `{{ $json.Status }}` | String: is equal to | Open | | Not cancelled | `{{ $json.Status }}` | String: is not equal to | Cancelled | | Subject mentions [invoice](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/invoice) | `{{ $json.subject }}` | String: contains | invoice | | Email is a company address | `{{ $json.Email }}` | String: ends with | @ourclient.com | | Total over $1,000 | `{{ $json.output.total }}` | Number: is greater than | 1000 | | Score of 8 or more | `{{ $json.output.score }}` | Number: is greater than or equal to | 8 | | Due before today | `{{ $json.Due }}` | Date & Time: is before | `{{ $today }}` | | Opted in | `{{ $json.Consent }}` | Boolean: is true | | | A list has entries | `{{ $json.tasks }}` | Array: is not empty | | Combine conditions with **AND** (all must pass) or **OR** (any one). ## Filter or If? Use Filter when you only care about the matching items. Use **If** when the non-matching items need their own path. The [speed-to-lead lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/speed-to-lead-agent-n8n) uses an If: every lead gets an instant reply, but only leads scoring 8 or more go down the **true** branch to a Slack alert. A Filter would have been fine too, since the false branch does nothing, but If makes it easy to add a step for warm leads later. n8n If vs Switch covers the three options. ## Try it free, step by step **Daily Job Alerts: Email Each Tech Their Jobs from Google Sheets with n8n**. Every morning at 7, n8n reads a plumbing company's jobs sheet, skips anything not assigned yet, and emails each job to the tech it's assigned to — customer, address, time and what's wrong. No AI… You do every step yourself in a practice copy of n8n, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts. [Start the free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/job-alerts) [Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-daily-job-alerts-google-sheets-gmail) ## Why does my Filter drop everything? - **Wrong type.** A number stored as text compared with a Number operator can fail. Turn on the option to convert types, or compare as a string. - **Extra spaces.** "Open " is not equal to "Open". Use `{{ $json.Status.trim() }}`. - **Capitals.** Turn on **Ignore Case** for string comparisons. - **The expression isn't one.** Make sure value1 is in Expression mode and the Result line shows a value. ## How do I see what was dropped? Under the node's settings, turn on **Always Output Data** to see an empty result when nothing passes, or add a second Filter with the opposite condition while testing. In production, add an [error workflow](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/error-workflow) or a summary email if dropped items matter. ## Key takeaways - Filter keeps matching items and drops the rest; it has one output. - "is not empty" is the quickest way to skip incomplete rows. - Use If when the items that fail still need their own steps. - Check types, spaces and capitals when a filter drops more than you expect. ## Frequently asked questions **How do I filter rows in n8n?** Add a Filter node after the node that returns the rows, set value1 to the column's expression, choose an operator and run it. **How do I skip empty rows in n8n?** Use a Filter with value1 set to the column and the String operator is not empty. **What is the difference between Filter and If in n8n?** Filter has one output and drops non-matching items. If has a true and a false output, so both groups continue. **Which course is this in?** The free [n8n Jump Start](https://learn.ynteractive.com/courses/n8n-jump-start) course. For another walkthrough of the same workflow, read [Email Each Tech Their Jobs Every Morning](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/n8n-daily-job-emails-google-sheets). ## Free lessons in this post - [Daily Job Alerts: Email Each Tech Their Jobs from Google Sheets with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-daily-job-alerts-google-sheets-gmail): Every morning at 7, n8n reads a plumbing company's jobs sheet, skips anything not assigned yet, and emails each job to the tech it's assigned to — customer, address… - [Speed-to-Lead Agent: Answer Every Web Lead in 60 Seconds](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/speed-to-lead-agent-n8n): Build an n8n workflow that scores every website lead with AI, emails a personal first reply within seconds, and pings Slack only when a lead is hot. ## Watch it in a free lesson: Speed-to-Lead Agent: Answer Every Web Lead in 60 Seconds ### Speed-to-Lead Agent: Answer Every Web Lead in 60 Seconds: video walkthrough Full walkthrough · 3:28 · with captions Build an n8n workflow that scores every website lead with AI, emails a personal first reply within seconds, and pings Slack only when a lead is hot. The whole lesson narrated step by step, recorded in Stepthrough’s simulated practice environment. [Watch it with chapters and the full transcript](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/speed-to-lead-agent-n8n#watch) From the free lesson [Speed-to-Lead Agent: Answer Every Web Lead in 60 Seconds](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/speed-to-lead-agent-n8n) ## Related terms Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson. [Filter node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/filter-node) · [Conditional logic](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/conditional-logic) · [Invoice](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/invoice) · [Apollo.io](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/apollo-io) · [Automation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/automation) · [Dispatching](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/dispatching) · [Get rows (reading a sheet)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/get-rows) · [Google Sheets (as an automation database)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/google-sheets) [The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) ## Related prompts - [Appointment reminder text prompt and examples](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/appointment-reminder-text-prompt): Appointment reminder text examples and a ChatGPT prompt that writes day-before reminders: time window, who is coming, one prep… - [Automation time savings estimate prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/automation-time-savings-estimate-prompt): Estimate what one automation saves from your own numbers only: minutes before and after, setup and upkeep, costs you look up… - [Rental property repair coordination prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/rental-property-job-coordination-prompt): Coordinate a repair at a rental: a clear email to the owner or property manager about approval and billing, and a short access… - [Tech daily job briefing prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/tech-daily-job-briefing-prompt): Turn today's job schedule and office notes into a short morning briefing for each technician, in time order, with unassigned… [All free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts) ## Visual guides The same ideas as quick visual guides: swipe through the slides, or read each one as text. - [Email each tech their jobs at 7am with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/job-alerts-n8n): Every morning someone at Rapid Flow Plumbing copies the day's jobs into emails, one tech at a time. Hand it to n8n. - [Mistake to Avoid: Scheduling Before Setting the Timezone](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/mistake-scheduling-before-the-timezone): A visual tip for n8n schedules: set the workflow timezone before the schedule, so 7am means 7am where your business is. - [Mistake to Avoid: Sending Every Job Email to One Address](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/mistake-one-address-for-every-job): A visual tip for n8n and Gmail: make the To field an expression for the Tech Email column, written in square brackets because of the space. [All visual guides](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual) ## Keep reading - [n8n Gmail Node Examples: Send, Draft, Wait for Approval](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/n8n-gmail-node-examples): Five n8n Gmail node setups from real workflows: send a message, create a draft, send and wait for approval, email type and the n8n footer. - [n8n Data Mapping Examples: 20 Expressions to Copy](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/n8n-data-mapping-examples): Twenty n8n expressions from real workflows: sheet columns, names with spaces, webhook body fields, AI output paths, earlier nodes, dates and defaults. - [n8n Information Extractor Examples: 3 Schemas That Work](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/n8n-information-extractor-examples): n8n Information Extractor examples for leads, invoices and resumes: the Text prompt, JSON example schemas, the model and mapping the output. 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