ERR value is not an integer or out of range

A command requires a whole number, but the stored value or an argument is not a whole number.

Redis returns this error when a command needs a whole number but gets something else. The problem can be an argument you passed, or the value stored in the key.

ERR value is not an integer or out of range

Example

INCR adds 1 to the number stored in a key, so it fails when the key holds text:

> SET counter "abc"
OK
> INCR counter
(error) ERR value is not an integer or out of range

An argument that should be a number gives the same error:

> EXPIRE counter ten
(error) ERR value is not an integer or out of range

How to fix it

• The key holds text or a decimal number. INCR, DECR, INCRBY, and DECRBY only work on whole numbers, such as 10 or -3. A value such as 1.5 gives this error too. To add to a decimal number, use INCRBYFLOAT.
• An argument isn't a whole number. Arguments such as expiry times and counts must be whole numbers written as digits. Look for units or decimals, such as 10s or 2.5.
• The number is too large. Redis stores these numbers as signed 64-bit integers, so the largest value is 9223372036854775807. When an increment would go past that, the error is ERR increment or decrement would overflow.

Commands that take decimal numbers, such as INCRBYFLOAT, give a similar error when the value isn't a number: ERR value is not a valid float.