Excel has several counting functions, and the right one depends on what you mean by “count numbers.” Use COUNT when you specifically want to count cells that contain numeric values.
Count numeric cells with COUNT
- Select the cell where you want the result.
- Enter a formula such as
=COUNT(A2:A20). - Press Enter.
Excel returns the number of numeric cells in the specified range. Dates and times can also be counted because Excel stores valid dates and times as numbers.
Count nonblank cells instead
If you need to count any populated cell, including text, use COUNTA. For example, =COUNTA(A2:A20) counts cells that are not empty.
Count values that meet a condition
Use COUNTIF when only certain entries should be counted. For example, =COUNTIF(A2:A20,">100") counts numeric values greater than 100.
Why COUNT can return a smaller number than expected
A value that looks like a number may actually be stored as text, especially after importing data. COUNT ignores text. Check the cell format and imported data before assuming the formula is wrong.
Blank cells are also ignored. Choose COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF, or COUNTIFS based on the question you need the worksheet to answer rather than using one counting function for every situation.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.