Excel sheets can be used to keep track of time, and date, schedule events, and activities, keep track of objects and their prices, and much more. In this article, we will see how to count the number of cells with dates in Excel using formulas and VBA. For your better understanding, we will use a sample dataset containing Name, Gender, and Date of Birth.
There are several ways to count the number of cells with dates in Excel. We will see the use of VBA, COUNTA, COUNTIFS, SUMPRODUCT, and a combination of functions throughout this post.
1. Using COUNTA Function to Count Number of Cells with Dates in Excel
The COUNTA function is helpful in calculating the number of cells containing numeric values.
Steps:
- First, click on cell F5 and type the following formula.
=COUNTA(D5:D12)
- Now, press the ENTER key.
Here, Excel has counted all the numeric date values ranging from D5 to D12.
Read More: Excel Count Number of Cells in Range
2. Counting Dates in a Given Year Using Excel SUMPRODUCT Function
In our dataset, there are different dates in different years. What should we do, if we want to know dates in specific years? Let’s see, how to do it.
Steps:
- First, click on cell F5 and type the formula as follows.
=SUMPRODUCT(--(YEAR($D$5:$D$12)=$F5))
- Now, press the ENTER key.
- Finally, AutoFill by dragging down the right button on the mouse.
So, what is happening here?
To simplify, in this formula, the YEAR function will extract all the years from the valid date range D5:D12 and will match it with the year given in cell F5.
=SUMPRODUCT(--(YEAR(1995;1994;1993;1992)=1992))
To get an array of TRUE, and FALSE, each date is compared to the year value in Column D.
={FALSE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;TRUE}
As a result, it will count the TRUE which is 2 in the case of the year 1992.
Then, once we use the AutoFill, the criteria value gets changed so does the YEAR function’s result.
Related Content: How to Count Blank Cells in Excel with Condition
3. Combining Excel Functions to Count Number of Cells with Dates
Let’s, try another way to count the number of cells with dates. This time we will use a combination of functions to count the number of dates in cells in Excel.
Steps:
- First, click on cell F5 and type the following formula.
=SUM(IF(ISERROR(DATEVALUE(TEXT(D5:D12, "dd/MM/yyyy"))), 0, 1))
- Now, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER altogether. If you’re using Excel 365 then pressing ENTER will do the task for you.
That’s it.
Here the ISERROR function will see, whether the cells have number values. It will tell FALSE if the cell is not blank and TRUE in the case of blank cells. Then, the IF function will SUM 1 for each FALSE value and zero for TRUE.
Similar Readings:
- How to Count Only Visible Cells in Excel
- Count Cells with Specific Value in Excel
- Count Empty Cells in Excel
4. Counting Dates in Current Month Using COUNTIFS Function
Now, we will see how to count dates in the current and previous months using the COUNTIFS function. We got a dataset where dates of joining are given. We want to see how many joining dates are in the current month and how many are in the previous month.
Steps:
- First, click on cell G5 and type the formula as shown below.
=COUNTIFS(D5:D12,">="&EOMONTH(TODAY(),-1)+1,D5:D12,"<"&EOMONTH(TODAY(),0)+1)
- Now, press the ENTER key.
So, we get result 5. It’s also visible from the dataset that in our current month March, the total dates are 5.
After that, we will see how to calculate dates in the previous month.
Steps:
- First, click on cell H5 and type the formula as shown below.
=COUNTIFS(D5:D12,">="&EOMONTH(TODAY(),-2)+1,D5:D12,"<"&EOMONTH(TODAY(),-1)+1)
- Finally, press the ENTER key and our result is ready.
This formula relies on the COUNTIFS function to count dates that are greater than or equal to the current month’s first day and less than the next month’s first day. Both dates are created using the EOMONTH function, which takes the current date from the TODAY function.
Read More: How to Count Filled Cells in Excel
5. Computing Birthdays by Month Using SUMPRODUCT Function
In this method, we will see birthdays by month using the SUMPRODUCT function.
Steps:
- Type the following formula in cell G5.
=SUMPRODUCT(--(MONTH($D$5:$D$12)=MONTH($F5&1)))
- Now, press the ENTER key.
- After that, drag down to AutoFill for the rest of the series.
Can you relate how the SUMPRODUCT function works here? We think you do, it works in the same way we’ve discussed in Method 2.
Read More: How to Count Odd and Even Numbers in Excel
6. Creating User Defined Function to Count Number of Cells with Dates
In this method, we generate a user-defined function using VBA. Let’s follow the procedures down.
Steps:
- Firstly, go to the Developer tab from the ribbon.
- Secondly, click on Visual Basic from the Code category to open the Visual Basic Editor. Or press ALT+F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
- This will appear in the Visual Basic Editor where we write our codes.
- Thirdly, click on Module from the Insert drop-down menu bar.
- This will create a Module in your workbook.
- And, copy and paste the VBA code shown below.
VBA Code:
Option Explicit
Function Count_DateCells(dRanges As Range) As Integer
Dim drng As Range
Dim dcount As Integer
Application.Volatile
dcount = 0
For Each drng In dRanges
If IsDate(drng) Then
dcount = dcount + 1
End If
Next
Count_DateCells = dcount
End Function- Press CTRL+S to save the file.
- Further, go back to your worksheet and insert the formula there.
=Count_DateCells(D5:D12)- Press Enter.
- That’s it! you will get your result.
7. Applying VBA Macro Tool to Count Number of Cells with Dates
Finally, in this method, we will see how to count the number of dates in Excel using VBA.
Steps:
- First, right-click on the sheet and go to View Code.
- After that copy and paste the VBA code below.
VBA Code:
Option Explicit
Function Date_Count(dRanges As Range) As Variant
Dim dCell() As Variant
Dim rg As Range
Dim dcnt As Integer
Application.Volatile
ReDim dCell(dRanges.Cells.Count - 1) As Variant
dcnt = 0
For Each rg In dRanges
dCell(dcnt) = VarType(rg)
dcnt = dcnt + 1
Next
Date_Count = dCell
End Function
- After that, press F5 or the play button to run the code.
- At this point, Enter the formula in cell F5.
=SUM(IF(Date_Count(D5:D12)=7,1,0))- Finally, press the CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER keys while doing so.
Through this code, we are creating a user function called DateCells. This function will check date values in a given array or ranges and SUM them one by one if the date value is valid.
Read More: Count Filled Cells in Excel Using VBA
Download Practice Workbook
Conclusion
These are 6 different ways to count the number of cells with dates in Excel. Based on your preferences, you may choose the best alternative. Please leave them in the comments area if you have any questions or feedback.
The SUMPRODUCT was exactly what I needed and I’d never used it before.
Thanks
Hello, BILL SHIELDS!
Thanks for your appreciation!
Stay connected with Exceldemy.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Sabrina Ayon
Author, ExcelDemy.
Your vba code is too complex. Your code outputs an array that has to be fed further into a complex formula and you didn’t explain why do we have to use 7,1,0 with SUM IF.
Instead I would prefer to use isDate() function inside the loop to check the cells for being an actual date and increment the count variable each time you get a TRUE result. Finally return a count of cells containing the date instead of an array which will have to be used with more functions.
Simplicity should be the key. The code should be like this as per my suggestion;
Function Count_DateCells(dRanges As Range) As Integer
Dim drng As Range
Dim dcount As Integer
Application.Volatile
dcount = 0
For Each drng In dRanges
If IsDate(drng) Then
dcount = dcount + 1
End If
Next
Count_DateCells = dcount
End Function
Hello, EHTISHAM SAFDAR!
Thanks a ton for your suggestion!
In Method-7, the precise range we require to count the number of cells containing dates is D5:D12. Determines whether each data value in a given array or range is legitimate by SUM each one.
Regards,
Sabrina Ayon
Author, ExcelDemy.