Md. Abdullah Al Murad
In general, the COUNT function in Excel helps us to count the number of cells containing numerical values within a given range. This is one of the more popular statistical functions in Excel. However, this COUNT function is used to get the number of entries in a number field that is in a range or array of numbers. In this article, I will share a complete idea through 4 ideal examples of how to use the COUNT function in Excel, both independently and with other Excel functions.
The above screenshot is an overview of the article, representing an application COUNT of the function in the range D5:D11 in Excel. You’ll learn more about the methods to use the COUNT function properly in the following sections of this article.
Download Practice Workbook
You can download the workbook used for the demonstration from the download link below.
Introduction to Excel COUNT Function
The COUNT function is categorized under the statistical function in Excel. It was first initiated in Excel in 2000.
- Function Objective
Counts the number of cells in a range that contains numbers.
- Syntax
=COUNT(value1,[value2], ...)
- Arguments
| Argument | Required/Optional | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| value1 | Required | Pass an item, cell reference, or range. |
| value2 | Optional | Pass an optional item, cell reference, or range. |
- Returning Parameter
Returns the number of cells that contains numbers only.
Note:
- Usually, this function’s argument can be individual items, cell references, or ranges up to a total of 255 arguments.
- However, the COUNT function ignores the logical values TRUE and FALSE.
- In addition to these, this function also ignores text values and empty cells.
- Versions
Workable from Excel version Excel 2007.
4 Ideal Examples to Use COUNT Function in Excel
Usually, you can use the COUNT function on various occasions. Let’s explore some common uses of COUNT. Moreover, we will be using different datasets for different examples. However, keep in mind that these are just some basic examples to demonstrate the usage of the function in different scenarios. At the same time, the usage of the function can go a long way in developing useful formulas for automation. For the purpose of demonstration, I have used the following sample dataset.
Example 1: Use COUNT Function to Count Numbers in Given Range
Using the COUNT function, we can easily count any range of numbers. For showing the process, let’s assume we have a dataset of some Foods with their name, Date, and Sales. Now, we will count the number of sales by counting the sales cells.
📌 Steps:
- Initially, select cell D13 and write down the following formula.
=COUNT(D5:D11)
- Finally, hit the Enter key to get the result.
Example 2: Insert COUNT in Excel to Get the Number of Valid Dates
Furthermore, another feature of the COUNT function is that it will only count valid dates. The process is quite simple and easy. For the purpose of demonstration, I have changed the dataset slightly. However, go through the following steps.
📌 Steps:
- Firstly, write the following formula on cell D13.
=COUNT(C5:C11)
- Lastly, hit Enter button to get the Number of Valid Dates.
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Example 3: Count Ignoring Invalid Cells Using COUNT
At the time of counting, the COUNT function ignores invalid cells. However, let’s assume that in our dataset, in the Sales column, some of the rows contain text or strings. Hence, we want to calculate the number of sales by ignoring those invalid sales. Therefore, follow the steps below.
📌 Steps:
- Initially, insert the following formula on cell D13.
=COUNT(C5:C11)
- Lastly, hit Enter from the keyboard to get the final output.
Example 4: Apply COUNT Function to Calculate Average
Last but not least, you can apply the COUNT function in order to calculate the average. Here, I have calculated the average sales by combining the SUM and COUNT functions. Hence, go through the steps mentioned below.
📌 Steps:
- Firstly, select cell D13 and insert the following formula.
=SUM(D5:D11)/COUNT(D5:D11)
- After that, press Enter button, and the final output will appear.
Things to Remember
- Firstly, #NAME? will appear when trying to use the COUNT function in an older version of Excel.
- Secondly, #REF! will appear if a COUNT function formula is used between two different workbooks and the source workbook is closed.
- Finally, you can combine a huge range of functions with the COUNT function.
Conclusion
These are all the steps you can follow to use the COUNT function in Excel. Overall, in terms of working with time, we need this function for various purposes. I have shown multiple methods with their respective examples, but there can be many other iterations depending on numerous situations. Hopefully, you can now easily create the needed adjustments. Finally, I sincerely hope you learned something and enjoyed this guide. Please let us know in the comments section below if you have any queries or recommendations.
For more information like this, visit Exceldemy.com.
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