Function guides ยท Statistical
COUNT function
Counts the cells that contain numbers.
Syntax
=COUNT(value1, [value2], ...)
| Argument | What it is |
|---|---|
value1 | A cell reference or range to count numbers in. |
value2, ... | Optional. Up to 255 more. |
What COUNT does
COUNT tells you how many cells in a range contain numbers. Dates and times count because Excel stores them as numbers. Text, blanks, errors and logical values do not.
It is a small function that does a lot of checking work. Compare COUNT with COUNTA and you find the cells that are not numbers. Compare it with the number of rows and you find the gaps. When you need a condition, move up to COUNTIF or COUNTIFS.
COUNT examples
1. Count the orders that have an amount
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order | Amount |
| 2 | 1001 | 250 |
| 3 | 1002 | 90 |
| 4 | 1003 | |
| 5 | 1004 | 410 |
| 6 | 1005 | Pending |
| 7 | 1006 | 75 |
| 8 | 4 |
Six rows, but only four of them hold a number. The blank and the word "Pending" are both skipped, so COUNT returns 4.
This is also a quick audit: if a column should have six numbers and COUNT says four, two cells need attention.
2. Dates are numbers too
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Task | Due |
| 2 | Draft | 3/2/2026 |
| 3 | Review | TBD |
| 4 | Publish | 3/20/2026 |
| 5 | ||
| 6 | 2 |
Excel stores a date as a serial number, so COUNT counts every real date in the column and skips the text entries. Cell B3 holds the text "TBD" and does not count.
A date that was typed in a format Excel did not recognize is stored as text and is missed in the same way.
3. Count across several ranges
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | |
| 2 | 8 | 7 | |
| 3 | 9 | ||
| 4 | 6 | 10 | |
| 5 | |||
| 6 | 5 |
Like SUM, COUNT takes more than one argument. Here two small blocks of quiz scores are counted together, and a blank in the second block is ignored.
Common COUNT mistakes
- Using COUNT when you meant COUNTA. COUNT only sees numbers. To count customers listed by name, use COUNTA. This is the single most common miss on tests, and it returns a plausible-looking 0.
- Counting text-numbers. Zip codes or IDs imported as text are not counted. If COUNT disagrees with what you can see, check the alignment of the cells.
- Expecting COUNT to count a condition. COUNT has no criteria. To count scores over 70, use COUNTIF. To count blanks, use COUNTBLANK.
- Counting the header. A range that starts at the header row still works because text is skipped, but a header that is a year such as 2026 is a number and gets counted.
COUNT on Excel job tests
Test sheets often put COUNT, COUNTA and COUNTBLANK side by side, and the wording tells you which one you need. "How many orders have an amount" is COUNT. "How many rows have a name" is COUNTA. "How many are missing a phone number" is COUNTBLANK.
Read the data before choosing. IDs that look like numbers may be text, in which case COUNT returns 0 and COUNTA gives the right answer. And do not subtract one for the header by hand; start the range at the first data row.
When the question adds a condition, such as orders over $300, you have moved on to COUNTIF.
Related functions
COUNT questions
- What is the difference between COUNT and COUNTA?
- COUNT counts cells that hold numbers (including dates). COUNTA counts every cell that is not empty, including text and errors.
- Does COUNT count zeros?
- Yes. Zero is a number. A blank cell is not counted, a cell containing 0 is.
- How do I count how many cells are empty?
- Use COUNTBLANK(range). It counts truly empty cells and cells that hold an empty string from a formula.
- Why is COUNT returning 0 on a column of numbers?
- The numbers are stored as text. Convert them, or switch to COUNTA if you only need to know how many cells are filled.
Practice COUNT
Try it in a working grid: the free lesson COUNT and COUNTA (module 4 of Excel from Zero) has checked COUNT exercises.
Practice this function