Excel COUNTIF Function

COUNTIF Function

The COUNTIF function is a premade function in Excel, which counts cells as specified.

It is typed =COUNTIF

NOTE: The COUNTIFfunction can have basic or more advanced uses. This covers the basic use for how to count specific numbers and words.

Numbers (e.g. 90) and words (e.g. "Water") can be specified.

How to use the =COUNTIF function:

• Select a cell
• Type =COUNTIF
• Double click the COUNTIF command
• Select a range
• Type ,
• Select a cell (the criteria, the value that you want to count)
• Hit enter

Note: The different parts of the function are separated by a symbol, like comma , or semicolon ; The symbol depends on your Language Settings.

Let's see some examples!

Apply the COUNTIF function to range B2:B21, to count how many Pokemons we have in the different types:

    Name	Type 1	Type 2	Total stats
    Mankey	Fighting		305
    Poliwrath	Water	Fighting	510
    Victreebel	Grass	Poison	490
    Tentacool	Water	Poison	335		Grass
    Magneton	Electric	Steel	465		Water
    Dewgong	Water	Ice	475		Electric
    Cloyster	Water	Ice	525		Fighting
    Onix	Rock	Ground	385		Rock
    Dragonair	Dragon		420		Dragon
    Pidgeotto	Normal	Flying	349		Normal
    Rattata	Normal		253		Bug
    Beedrill	Bug	Poison	395		Poison
    Doduo	Normal	Flying	310		Fire
    Kingler	Water		475		Ghost
    Nidoqueen	Poison	Ground	505
    Hitmonchan	Fighting		455
    Charmeleon	Fire		405
    Arbok	Poison		438
    Gastly	Ghost	Poison	310
    Magikarp	Water		200

We want the COUNTIF function to count the types of Pokemons, in the range G5:G15:

The , is typed after the range is selected, which tells the function what you are looking to count.

The COUNTIF function has successfully counted 1 Grass Pokemon, which is Victreebel (A4).

Let's count the Water Pokemons in G6

The same steps apply

• Select G6
• Type =COUNTIF
• Select B2:B21
• Type (,)
• Select F6 (Specifying Water as criteria)
• Hit enter

That is great! The COUNTIF function has counted 6 Water Pokemons in B2:B21.

Let's count the rest of the types more effectively. We want to continue the function from G6:G15. Making use of the Filling Function and Absolute References.

Step by step:

• Double click G6
• Lock the range references absolute (B2:B21). Type dollar signs before the columns and row. Type 4 dollar signs in total. =COUNTIF($B$2:$B$21,F6). Note: We want F6 to remain relative. Because we want it to move downwards. Do not add dollar signs ($) to it.
• Hit enter
• Fill the range G6:G15

That saved us alot of time! Good job!

A Non-Working Example

Let's try an example that will not work

Fill G5:G15 without locking the references to see what happens.

If the references for the range are kept relative, the fill function will move the range downwards, including blank cells and missing the range where the data is.