How to Write a COUNT Function in Excel

The COUNT function in Excel counts how many numeric values there are in 2 or more given cells or cell ranges. In this post you'll discover two ways to create a COUNT formula with examples that you can dissect.

Table of Contents

1. Example 1: How to write a basic COUNT function in Excel

2. Anatomy of a COUNT function

3. Example 2: How to generate a COUNT using AutoSum

4. Example 3: Data that does not get counted

5. What next?

1. Example 1: How to write a basic COUNT function in Excel

Consider this simple data:

To extract the smallest value from this range, regardless of the order in which they may, or may not, be sorted, using a COUNTfunction:

1. Type =COUNT(

2. Select cells A1:A5 with the mouse (you can type the cell range but then you may get human error)

3. Type the closing bracket and press Enter.

This calculates how many numeric cells there are in the range, 5.

The result using the COUNT function in Excel

2. Anatomy of a COUNT function

Every formula starts with '='.
COUNT tells Excel what to do with the data, i.e. find the number of numeric values.
The cells or cell ranges inside the brackets tell Excel what to check.

Here are some examples:

=COUNT(A1,A2,A3)

=COUNT(A1:A5, C1:C5)

=COUNT(A1,C1:C5)

3. Example 2: How to generate a COUNT using AutoSum

The AutoSUM button is the beginner's best friend. You'll find it on the Home ribbon.

1. Select the range of cells you wish to analyse, or select the blank cell that will contain the result.

2. Click the AutoSUM button then choose COUNT NUMBERS.

3. Excel writes the COUNT function for you. Press Enter to lock it in.

4. Example 3: Data that does not get counted

Text, symbols and blank cells do not get counted. So if your data looked like this, the COUNT function returns 4.

... and if the data looks like this, the COUNT function returns 3.

5. What next?

I hope you found plenty of value in this post. I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments below together with any questions you may have.

Have a fantastic day.

About the author

Jason Morrell

Jason Morrell is a professional trainer, consultant and course creator who lives on the glorious Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

He helps people of all levels unleash and leverage the power contained within Microsoft Office by delivering training, troubleshooting services and taking on client projects. He loves to simplify tricky concepts and provide helpful, proven, actionable advice that can be implemented for quick results.

Purely for amusement he sometimes talks about himself in the third person.

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