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COUNT

The COUNT formula returns the number of numeric values within a specified range of cells. It is commonly used to count the number of entries in a given range that meet specific criteria, such as counting the number of sales above a certain threshold.

Usage

Use the COUNT formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter and 1 optional parameter:

=COUNT(value1, [value2, ...])
Parameters:
  1. value1 (required):
    The first value or range of cells to count.
  2. value2, ... (optional):
    Additional values or ranges of cells to count, up to a maximum of 30.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the COUNT formula in Google Sheets.

Counting sales over $100

Suppose you have a table of sales data with columns for the item sold and the price. You can use COUNT in combination with IF and GREATER THAN to count the number of sales above a certain threshold, such as $100.

Counting non-empty cells

To count the number of non-empty cells in a range, you can use COUNTA instead of COUNT.

Counting unique values

To count the number of unique values in a range, you can use COUNTUNIQUE instead of COUNT.

Common Mistakes

COUNT not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the COUNT Google Sheets Formula:

Not selecting a range of cells

One of the most common mistakes is not selecting a range of cells as the argument for the COUNT formula. Make sure to properly select the range of cells you want to count.

Using text instead of numerical values

COUNT formula only works with numerical values. If you try to count text values, it will return 0. Make sure to use numerical values in the range of cells you want to count.

Using the wrong arguments

Make sure to use the correct arguments for the COUNT formula. The formula takes one or more arguments, separated by commas. If you use the wrong arguments, the formula will return an error.

Not using the correct syntax

Make sure to use the correct syntax for the COUNT formula. The formula takes one or more arguments, separated by commas, and is enclosed in parentheses. If you do not use the correct syntax, the formula will return an error.

Including empty cells in the range

COUNT formula counts only non-empty cells in the range. If you want to count empty cells as well, use the COUNTA formula instead. Make sure to select the appropriate formula for your needs.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to COUNT or are often used with it in a formula:

  • SUM

    The SUM function in Google Sheets adds up a range of numbers. This function is most commonly used to sum the values in a range of cells.

  • AVERAGE

    The AVERAGE function calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of the values passed to it. It is commonly used to find the average of a range of cells containing numerical data.

  • MAX

    The MAX function returns the maximum value from a range of cells or a set of supplied values. It is commonly used to find the largest value in a dataset.

  • MIN

    The MIN formula is a statistical function that returns the smallest value in a set of numbers. It is commonly used to find the minimum value from a range of cells or a list of values.

  • IF

    The IF formula is a logical function used to test a condition and return one value if the condition is true and another value if the condition is false. It is commonly used to create conditional statements and perform calculations based on certain conditions.

Learn More

You can learn more about the COUNT Google Sheets function on Google Support.