Formulas have a few limits. Some keep a workspace fast, such as how deep a formula can reach through linked tables. Others come from how formulas work, such as an IF that must give back the same kind of value either way.
Here is the test: if a formula will not save, or gives back something odd, check it against the list below before you rewrite it.
Example: a Findings table in a vendor risk program. A formula on a finding that reaches to its contract, then the vendor, the parent company and the region goes four links deep. SmartSuite will not save it. A Lookup field on Vendors that shows the region brings it closer and fixes it.
Plan Availability | All plan types. Field limits per table depend on the plan. |
Permissions | Administrators and Solution Managers create and change formulas in the solutions they manage. |
Platform | Web |
Related Reading |
A formula will not save: check these in order
Too deep. A formula can reach through at most 3 linked tables. See Reference data from other tables in a formula.
Too complex. A very long formula hits the complexity limit and cannot be saved. See Formula Field Error Messages.
Mixed kinds of result. IF and SUMIF must give back the same kind of value every way. See Formula Functions & Operators.
A list used as one value. Lookups and multi-record links give lists. See Lookup Field.
Too many fields. The table has reached its plan's limit for calculated fields. See SmartSuite Plans, Features and Pricing.
Still stuck? Select the chat button in the lower-right corner of SmartSuite and choose Send a message. Include the table, the field name and the message you saw.
Field limits per table
Each table can hold a set number of these fields, by plan.
Team
Linked Record fields: 30
Lookup fields: 30
Formula, Rollup and Count fields together: 30
Professional
Linked Record fields: 50
Lookup fields: 50
Formula, Rollup and Count fields together: 50
Enterprise and Signature
Linked Record fields: 100
Lookup fields: 100
Formula, Rollup and Count fields together: 100
How deep a formula can reach
A formula can read fields in linked records with a dot: [Vendor].[Vendor Tier]. Each dot to another record is one level. A formula can go 3 levels deep.
Level 0: the record itself, such as [Status] or [Due Date].[Start Date].
Level 1: [Vendor].[Vendor Tier].
Level 2: [Vendor].[Parent Company].[Vendor Tier].
Level 3, the most: [Vendor].[Parent Company].[Region].[Name].
A deeper formula cannot be saved. The message reads "The maximum depth for Linked Record connections is 3 levels."
Tip: Bring a far value closer with a Lookup field in the linked table. The formula then reads the Lookup, one level away.
How long a formula can be
SmartSuite checks how complex a formula is as you write it.
"Approaching the complexity limit." A warning. You can still save.
"Reached the complexity limit." The formula must be simplified before it can be saved.
To simplify, use Lookup, Rollup or Count fields for values from linked records. Split a long formula into helper Formula fields. Use GET_LIST, SUM and SUMIF fewer times in one formula.
Note: These limits apply when you save a new or changed formula. Formulas saved before the limits keep working.
The same kind of result every way
IF, SUMIF and other conditions must give back the same kind of value for every outcome, nested ones included. If the true result is a date, the false result must be a date too. Mixing a date and text causes an error.
Lookups give lists
A Lookup field, and a Linked Record field that allows many records, give a list of values. Turn the list into one value:
Text: CONCAT or ARRAYUNIQUE.
Dates: MIN or MAX.
Numbers: SUM, AVG, MIN or MAX.
If the Linked Record field allows one record only, read the value directly: [Vendor].[Vendor Tier].
Functions and fields with rules
TODAY() and NOW() work on paid plans and during a trial.
Files and Images can be read as a list of file names, joined as text.
Signature can be read as signed or unsigned. With LAST_MODIFIED_TIME and LAST_MODIFIED_BY, a formula can show who signed and when.
SmartDoc and Open Comments cannot be used in a formula.
Frequently asked questions
Will the limits break formulas I already have?
Will the limits break formulas I already have?
No. Formulas saved before the limits keep working. The limits apply when you save a new or changed formula.
Can a formula use a SmartDoc field?
Can a formula use a SmartDoc field?
No. SmartDoc and Open Comments cannot be used in formulas.
Why does my IF formula fail when one answer is a date?
Why does my IF formula fail when one answer is a date?
Every outcome must be the same kind of value. Make both answers dates, or turn the date into text with TEXT().
How many formulas can one table have?
How many formulas can one table have?
Formula, Rollup and Count fields share one limit: 30 on Team, 50 on Professional, and 100 on Enterprise and Signature.
Last verified 31 Oct 2026.