Quick Answer

COUNT Function

COUNT returns the count of cells containing numbers in a range.

Syntax

COUNT

(value1, [value2], ...)

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
value1	The first item, cell reference, or range to count.	Required
value2	Optional additional items, cell references, or ranges to count.	Optional

Basic Example

Count the number of numeric entries in a range

=COUNT(A1:A10)

Result7

Counts how many cells in A1:A10 contain numbers, ignoring text and blank cells.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Count across multiple ranges

Data analysis

Count numeric values across multiple non-contiguous ranges

=COUNT(A1:A10, C1:C10, E1:E10)

Result: 15

Counts numbers in three separate columns and returns the total.

Example 2: Count with criteria using COUNTIF

Filtered counting

For conditional counting, use COUNTIF or COUNTIFS instead

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, ">50")

Result: 4

COUNTIF counts cells that meet a specific condition, like values greater than 50.

How COUNT Works

COUNT scans each cell in the specified range and counts only those containing numeric values. It ignores empty cells, text, logical values (TRUE/FALSE), and error values.

1

Select a cell

Choose where you want the count result to appear.

2

Enter the formula

Type =COUNT(range) where range is your data.

3

Press Enter

The result shows the number of numeric cells.

Important Notes & Limitations

COUNT only counts cells with numeric values — text, blanks, and logical values are ignored.
Use COUNTA to count all non-empty cells, or COUNTIF/COUNTIFS for conditional counting.

Common Errors & Fixes

0No numeric values found in the range

Fix: Check your data range or use COUNTA if you want to count all non-empty cells.

Download Practice File

Practice COUNT with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the COUNT function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Related Functions

AVERAGE

Calculates the mean of the provided numbers.

AVERAGEIF

Averages values that satisfy one condition.

AVERAGEIFS

Averages values that meet all of the specified conditions.

CORREL

Pearson correlation coefficient between two arrays.

COUNTA

COUNTA returns the count of all non-empty cells in a range, including text, numbers, and logical values.

COUNTBLANK

COUNTBLANK returns the count of completely blank cells in a range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between COUNT and COUNTA?

COUNT only counts numeric values, while COUNTA counts all non-empty cells including text and logical values.

Does COUNT include blank cells?

No, COUNT ignores blank cells. Use COUNTA or COUNTBLANK to count blanks.

Can COUNT count across multiple sheets?

Yes, you can reference ranges from multiple sheets: =COUNT(Sheet1!A1:A10, Sheet2!A1:A10)