How to Use the COUNTIF function with Wildcards in Excel -7 Methods

This is an overview.

The sample dataset has 8 rows and 2 columns. All cells are in General format. 

Method 1 – Use the COUNTIF function with a Wildcard to Count Text Values in Excel

Steps:

• Select C13.
• Enter the formula below.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 2 – Using the COUNTIF with a Wildcard to count Numeric Values Only in Excel

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 3 – Inserting the COUNTIF “Starts with” Wildcard in Excel

To count the cells in which the values start with “GHY”:

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 4 – Applying the COUNTIF “Ends with” Wildcard in Excel

To count the cells that end with the characters “GH”:

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 5 – Using the COUNTIF “Contains” Wildcard in Excel

To count the cells that contain the value “256124FK”:

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 6 – Applying the COUNTIF “?” Wildcard in Excel

“HJI???GH” will search for values that start with HJI and end with GH.

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Method 7 – Inserting the COUNTIF “~ (tilde)” Character Wildcard in Excel

“*~?*” will find values containing a question mark.

Steps:

• Enter the formula in C13.

• Press Enter to see the result.

Read More: INDEX MATCH Multiple Criteria with Wildcard in Excel

Download Practice Workbook

Download the free Excel template here and practice.

Further Readings

• How to Find * Character Not as Wildcard in Excel 
• Excel VBA: Delete Files with Wildcards 
• SUMIFS with Wildcard in Excel