COUNTIF function
Use COUNTIF, one of the statistical functions, to count the number of cells that meet a criterion; for example, to count the number of times a particular city appears in a customer list.
In its simplest form, COUNTIF says:
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=COUNTIF(Where do you want to look?, What do you want to look for?)
For example:
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=COUNTIF(A2:A5,»London»)
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=COUNTIF(A2:A5,A4)
COUNTIF(range, criteria)
|
Argument name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
range (required) |
The group of cells you want to count. Range can contain numbers, arrays, a named range, or references that contain numbers. Blank and text values are ignored. Learn how to select ranges in a worksheet. |
|
criteria (required) |
A number, expression, cell reference, or text string that determines which cells will be counted. For example, you can use a number like 32, a comparison like «>32», a cell like B4, or a word like «apples». COUNTIF uses only a single criteria. Use COUNTIFS if you want to use multiple criteria. |
Examples
To use these examples in Excel, copy the data in the table below, and paste it in cell A1 of a new worksheet.
|
Data |
Data |
|---|---|
|
apples |
32 |
|
oranges |
54 |
|
peaches |
75 |
|
apples |
86 |
|
Formula |
Description |
|
=COUNTIF(A2:A5,»apples») |
Counts the number of cells with apples in cells A2 through A5. The result is 2. |
|
=COUNTIF(A2:A5,A4) |
Counts the number of cells with peaches (the value in A4) in cells A2 through A5. The result is 1. |
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=COUNTIF(A2:A5,A2)+COUNTIF(A2:A5,A3) |
Counts the number of apples (the value in A2), and oranges (the value in A3) in cells A2 through A5. The result is 3. This formula uses COUNTIF twice to specify multiple criteria, one criteria per expression. You could also use the COUNTIFS function. |
|
=COUNTIF(B2:B5,»>55″) |
Counts the number of cells with a value greater than 55 in cells B2 through B5. The result is 2. |
|
=COUNTIF(B2:B5,»<>»&B4) |
Counts the number of cells with a value not equal to 75 in cells B2 through B5. The ampersand (&) merges the comparison operator for not equal to (<>) and the value in B4 to read =COUNTIF(B2:B5,»<>75″). The result is 3. |
|
=COUNTIF(B2:B5,»>=32″)-COUNTIF(B2:B5,»<=85″) |
Counts the number of cells with a value greater than (>) or equal to (=) 32 and less than (<) or equal to (=) 85 in cells B2 through B5. The result is 1. |
|
=COUNTIF(A2:A5,»*») |
Counts the number of cells containing any text in cells A2 through A5. The asterisk (*) is used as the wildcard character to match any character. The result is 4. |
|
=COUNTIF(A2:A5,»?????es») |
Counts the number of cells that have exactly 7 characters, and end with the letters «es» in cells A2 through A5. The question mark (?) is used as the wildcard character to match individual characters. The result is 2. |
Common Problems
|
Problem |
What went wrong |
|---|---|
|
Wrong value returned for long strings. |
The COUNTIF function returns incorrect results when you use it to match strings longer than 255 characters. To match strings longer than 255 characters, use the CONCATENATE function or the concatenate operator &. For example, =COUNTIF(A2:A5,»long string»&»another long string»). |
|
No value returned when you expect a value. |
Be sure to enclose the criteria argument in quotes. |
|
A COUNTIF formula receives a #VALUE! error when referring to another worksheet. |
This error occurs when the formula that contains the function refers to cells or a range in a closed workbook and the cells are calculated. For this feature to work, the other workbook must be open. |
Best practices
|
Do this |
Why |
|---|---|
|
Be aware that COUNTIF ignores upper and lower case in text strings. |
|
|
Use wildcard characters. |
Wildcard characters —the question mark (?) and asterisk (*)—can be used in criteria. A question mark matches any single character. An asterisk matches any sequence of characters. If you want to find an actual question mark or asterisk, type a tilde (~) in front of the character. For example, =COUNTIF(A2:A5,»apple?») will count all instances of «apple» with a last letter that could vary. |
|
Make sure your data doesn’t contain erroneous characters. |
When counting text values, make sure the data doesn’t contain leading spaces, trailing spaces, inconsistent use of straight and curly quotation marks, or nonprinting characters. In these cases, COUNTIF might return an unexpected value. Try using the CLEAN function or the TRIM function. |
|
For convenience, use named ranges |
COUNTIF supports named ranges in a formula (such as =COUNTIF(fruit,»>=32″)-COUNTIF(fruit,»>85″). The named range can be in the current worksheet, another worksheet in the same workbook, or from a different workbook. To reference from another workbook, that second workbook also must be open. |
Note: The COUNTIF function will not count cells based on cell background or font color. However, Excel supports User-Defined Functions (UDFs) using the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) operations on cells based on background or font color. Here is an example of how you can Count the number of cells with specific cell color by using VBA.
Need more help?
You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.
See also
COUNTIFS function
IF function
COUNTA function
Overview of formulas in Excel
IFS function
SUMIF function
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COUNTIF Not Blank Function
The COUNTIF not blank function counts non-blank cells within a range. The universal formula is “COUNTIF(range,”<>”&””)” or “COUNTIF(range,”<>”)”. This formula works with numbers, text, and date values. It also works with the logical operators like “<,” “>,” “=,” and so on.
Note: Alternatively, the COUNTA functionThe COUNTA function is an inbuilt statistical excel function that counts the number of non-blank cells (not empty) in a cell range or the cell reference. For example, cells A1 and A3 contain values but, cell A2 is empty. The formula “=COUNTA(A1,A2,A3)” returns 2.
read more can be used to count the non-blank cells.
Table of contents
- COUNTIF Not Blank Function
- How to Use COUNTIF Non-Blank Function?
- #1–Numerical Values
- #2–Text Values
- #3–Date Values
- The Characteristics of COUNTIF Not Blank Function
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recommended Articles
- How to Use COUNTIF Non-Blank Function?
How to Use COUNTIF Non-Blank Function?
#1–Numerical Values
The steps to count non-empty cells with the help of the COUNTIF function are listed as follows:
- In Excel, enter the following data containing both, the data cells and the empty cells.
- Enter the following formula to count the data cells.
“=COUNTIF(range,”<>”&””)”
In the range argument, type B2:B30. Alternatively, select the range B2:B30 in the formula, as shown in the following image.
- Press the “Enter” key. The number of non-blank cells in the range B2:B30 appear in cell C2. The output is 26, as shown in the succeeding image.
This implies that there are 26 cells in the given range that contain a data value. This data can be a number, text, or any other value.
#2–Text Values
The steps to count non-empty cells within text values are listed as follows:
- Step 1: In Excel, enter the data as shown in the following image.
- Step 2: Select the range within which data needs to be checked for non-blank values. Enter the formula shown in the succeeding image.
- Step 3: Press the “Enter” key. The number of non-blank cells in the range B2:B21 appear in cell C2. The output is 15, as shown in the succeeding image.
Hence, the COUNTIF not blank formula works with text values.
#3–Date Values
The steps to count non-empty cells, when the data consists of dates, are listed as follows:
- Step 1: In Excel, enter the data as shown in the following image. Select the range whose data needs to be checked for non-blank values. Enter the following formula.
“=COUNTIF(B2:B21,”<>”&””)”
- Step 2: Press the “Enter” key. The number of non-blank cells in the range B2:B21 appear in cell C2. The output is 14, as shown in the succeeding image.
Hence, the COUNTIF not blank formula works with data that consists of date values.
The Characteristics of COUNTIF Not Blank Function
- It is case insensitive, implying that the output remains the same irrespective of whether the formula is entered in uppercase or lowercase.
- It works for data that consists of numbers, text, and date values.
- It works with greater than (>) and less than (<) operators.
- It is difficult to use the formula with long strings.
- The criteria (condition) must be specified within a pair of inverted commas to avoid errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the COUNTIF formula used to count blanks?
The universal formula for counting blanks is stated as follows:
“COUNTIF(range,””)”
This formula works with all types of data values.
Note: Alternatively, the COUNTBLANK function can be used to count blank cells.
How does the COUNTIF function count the duplicate values?
The formula for counting the duplicate value is given as follows:
“COUNTIF(range,“duplicate value”)”
The “range” represents the range within which the duplicate values are to be counted. The “duplicate value” is the exact data value that is to be counted.
For example, to count the number of times the text “fruits” appears in the range A2:A10, we use “=COUNTIF(A2:A10,“fruits”).”
- The COUNTIF not blank function counts the non-blank cells within a given range.
- The generic formula of the COUNTIF not blank function is stated as–“COUNTIF (range,“<>”&””).”
- The criteria (condition) must be specified within a pair of inverted commas to avoid errors.
- The COUNTIF functionThe COUNTIF function in Excel counts the number of cells within a range based on pre-defined criteria. It is used to count cells that include dates, numbers, or text. For example, COUNTIF(A1:A10,”Trump”) will count the number of cells within the range A1:A10 that contain the text “Trump”
read more works for data that consists of numbers, text, and date values. - The COUNTIF formula gives the same output irrespective of whether the formula is entered in uppercase or lowercase.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Excel COUNTIF not blank. Here we discuss how to use the COUNTIF function to count non-blank cells along with practical examples and a downloadable Excel template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles –
- Not Equal in VBA
- COUNTIF with Multiple Criteria
- VLOOKUP Errors
- Use Not Equal to in Excel
- XML in Excel
Return value
A logical value (TRUE or FALSE)
Usage notes
The ISNUMBER function returns TRUE when a cell contains a number, and FALSE if not. You can use ISNUMBER to check that a cell contains a numeric value, or that the result of another function is a number.
The ISNUMBER function takes one argument, value, which can be a cell reference, a formula, or a hardcoded value. Typically, value is entered as a cell reference like A1. When value is a number, the ISNUMBER function will return TRUE. Otherwise, ISNUMBER will return FALSE.
Examples
The ISNUMBER function returns TRUE if value is numeric:
=ISNUMBER("apple") // returns FALSE
=ISNUMBER(100) // returns TRUE
If cell A1 contains the number 100, ISNUMBER returns TRUE:
=ISNUMBER(A1) // returns TRUE
If a cell contains a formula, ISNUMBER checks the result of the formula:
=ISNUMBER(2+2) // returns TRUE
=ISNUMBER(2^3) // returns TRUE
=ISNUMBER(10 &" apples") // returns FALSE
Note: the ampersand (&) is the concatenation operator in Excel. When values are concatenated, the result is text.
Count numeric values
To count cells in a range that contain numbers, you can use the SUMPRODUCT function like this:
=SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(range))
The double negative coerces the TRUE and FALSE results from ISNUMBER into 1s and 0s and SUMPRODUCT sums the result.
Notes
- ISNUMBER will return TRUE for Excel dates and times since they are numeric.
- ISNUMBER will return FALSE for empty cells and errors.
Say if I have the following data in Column A
A1 = a
A2 = a
A3 = b
A4 = b
A5 = 1
A6 blank
A7 = d
I would like to count item on column A, if it’s not duplicate and not blank and not a number.
If anyone knows, please help.
asked Jul 6, 2015 at 18:50
BunnyBunny
1471 silver badge11 bronze badges
4
given your example data above, this returns the expected answer (3):
=SUMPRODUCT((ISTEXT(A1:A7))/COUNTIF(A1:A7,A1:A7&""))
as commented by @Jeeped, here is a link w/ an explanation as to how the formula works.
answered Jul 6, 2015 at 19:06
sous2817sous2817
3,8752 gold badges33 silver badges34 bronze badges
2
Want to learn more about how to count cells do not contain using Excel spreadsheet?? This post will give you an overview of how to use COUNTIF formula functions to get the number of cells that do not contain using Excel.
Syntax(Generic Formula)
=COUNTIF(range,”<>*txt*”)
How COUNTIF & COUNTIFS work
Excel has many syntax for a user who needs to specify on counting the total amount of cells with single or multiple criteria. For example, if you want to count cells based on more than one or more criteria, you can use the COUNTIF or COUNTIFS functions in Excel.
Figure 1: Example of count cells that do not contain
To count cells that do not contain, you can use the COUNTIF function. In the example shown, the formula in H13 is
=COUNTIF(D10:D18”<>”S”)
Difference Between COUNTIF & COUNTIFS
The difference between COUNTIF and COUNTIFS function is about the total number of condition that applies. While COUNTIF is designed to count the cells with a single condition, COUNTIFS function will let you have several criteria indifferent or in the same range as you wish.
=COUNTIFS(range”<>*?*”,rang”?*”)
By this tutorial, you have learned how to count the number of cells which don’t contain a specific text string.
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