Formulas > =COUNTIF()

How To Use COUNTIF() Function in Google Sheets

Description

Returns a conditional count across a range.

Common questions about the COUNTIF formula:
- How do you structure a COUNTIF formula? type the formula and then enter the range, then the criteria. What to count first, then how to count it second.
- What can the COUNTIF formula be used for? To add up the amount of cells that pass a certain criteria of your choosing.
- What are the arguments for a COUNTIF formula? Range and Criteria.

How can the COUNTIF formula be used appropriately:
The COUNTIF formula should be used to count the frequency of a specified value in a range of cells. The formula requires two arguments, the range and the criteria, and looks like this: =COUNTIF(range, criteria).

How can the COUNTIF formula be commonly mistyped:
The most common mistake when typing the COUNTIF formula is to forget the equals sign at the beginning. The formula should start with an equals sign (=). And it can be misspelled as: COUNTI, or CONTIF, or CNTIF, or COUNT, or COUNTF.

What are some common ways the COUNTIF formula is used inappropriately:
The COUNTIF formula can be used inappropriately by using criteria that is not related to the data in the range, or by using criteria that searches for multiple conditions in a single cell. You might also be trying to count the cells based on a different set of cells.

What are some common pitfalls when using the COUNTIF formula:
It is easy to forget to use the correct range when creating a COUNTIF formula, which will result in incorrect counts. Additionally, it is important to make sure that the criteria used in the formula is precise, as using a more general criteria can also result in incorrect counts. You might want to use AND or OR within your criteria. This can trip up many beginner Google Sheet users.

What are common mistakes when using the COUNTIF Formula:
Common mistakes when using the COUNTIF formula include forgetting to begin the formula with an equals sign (=), not including the range argument, or typos in the criteria argument. Using in adequate criteria to accomplish a count of what you want.

What are common misconceptions people might have with the COUNTIF Formula:
Some people may think that the COUNTIF formula can count any type of data, when it actually can only be used for counting specific values based on your own criteria.
Additionally, some people may think that COUNTIF will work for data with multiple conditions in a single cell, when it is designed to work with one condition in a single cell. At least your criteria needs to be specfic.
It's also common to think that a count is correct no matter what. If your data is incorrect, the COUNTIF function will not know.

Google Sheet Formula Frustrations Solved

Find every formula you'll ever need in Google Sheets here at Better Sheets. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide of 504 formulas.

Are you struggling to find a specific value in a column of data? Look no further than the powerful VLOOKUP formula. Or maybe you need to calculate the sum of values that meet specific criteria - try out SUMIF. And when it comes to frequency of values, COUNTIF has you covered.

Have you heard of the mysterious and powerful IF formula? It can turn your spreadsheets into gateways of productivity. And don't forget about the oft-partner ISBLANK().

Find step-by-step tutorials for any formula here on Better Sheets. Every formula page comes with links to written blog posts and Better Sheets tutorials featuring the exact formula.

Looking for a way to segment data based on specific criteria? The FILTER formula is perfect for you.

If you need to replace VLOOKUP, give INDEX/MATCH a try.

At bettersheets.co/formulas, I have everything you need to take your Google Sheets skills to the next level.

From ARRAYFORMULA() to ZTEST(), Better Sheets has it all.

How To Actually Use COUNTIF() in Sheets

COUNTIF(range, criterion)

Google Docs Help

25Better Sheets Tutorials

Create A Video Course in a Google Sheet | LMS in a Google Sheet

Set up a list of video links, and a checklist for others to use.

Conditional Formatting Data validation Intermediate

Better Sheets Videos Checklist

How to create a video checklist. Create a sheet with check boxes that you check off to mark the videos as seen. Great for those creating lead magnets or checklist digital products. Enables you to create a video course without having to download/upload any videos. Your users can keep track of their progress and get all the benefit of your knowledge.

Data validation Beginner

Creating A Dark Mode Theme | Announcing Dark Habits

Build a habit tracker in dark mode. Learn how to use emojis and checkboxes effectively.

Most Popular Intermediate

Project Based Task Management

Create a better checklist for project based task management.

Conditional Formatting Beginner

Create a ChatGPT Cheat Sheet Spreadsheet

Walk through step-by-step going from a blank sheet to an AI powered prompt engineering cheat sheet of a spreadsheet.

Watch the Upgrade to GPT-4 video to see the differences between GPT-3 and GPT-4 Apps Script

Intermediate

Create a Course Outline in Google Sheets

Wanted to share with members this course outline I am using for my own course making process. I outlined the course then added a bunch of cool little stats to help see my progress and keep me on a certain pace of video creation.

Beginner

3 Ways to Count in Google Sheets

The video explains three ways to count cells or information in Google Sheets: using the Explorer, using the COUNT function, and using the COUNTALL function. The Explorer is a tool located at the bottom right of the screen that allows you to quickly understand your data and find the count of items in a column. The COUNT function allows you to count the number of cells that contain numbers in a range of cells, while the COUNTALL function counts all the cells in a range, including those that contain formulas or are blank. The video also mentions other functions such as SUM and UNIQUE

Beginner

Make Color Changing Progress Bars - Make Progress Bars with Sparkline: Part 4

Create awesome progress bars with sparkline formula. You can make progress bar colors can change based on the input.

Intermediate

Ken Asks: How can I count true and false? Answer: w/ CountIF()

the answer is if you have a column of true or false you can use the count if statement argument formula. That's just count if, and then you say your range, and then comma, true. Or false, whichever one you want and you'll get a count.

Beginner

Deep Inside Dark Habits Google Script

Go inside this apps script and sheet. See how it's designed and created.

Tagging Titles, Create a Comma Separated List of Tags

The video tutorial is about tagging and creating comma-separated lists of tags for a list of titles. The tutorial demonstrates how to use data validation to create a drop-down menu of tags for each title and how to keep track of the number of videos or items in each tag category. The tutorial also shows how to create a comma-separated list of tags for each title using the JOIN function.

Intermediate

Discover Misspelled Duplicates

Discover effective methods to handle misspelled duplicates in Google Sheets using formulas without destroying your data. Search and find duplicates that are spelled differently.

Unveiling the Art of Taming Misspelled Duplicates: A Harmonious Symphony of Google Sheets Tricks and Tips

Embark on a captivating journey as we unravel enchanting secrets in this video guide.

Discover an ethereal dance of formulas that transcends the limitations of Google Sheets' native features, gracefully addressing the conundrum of misspelled duplicates.

Delve into the profound intricacies of the issue, where statuses and names intertwine, inviting chaos into your CRM or meeting records.

Witness the mesmerizing revelation of unorthodox yet elegant techniques that preserve your data's essence without sacrificing its integrity. Unveil the hidden world of the duplicate detector, where rows are harmoniously synchronized, leaving no spelling errors unnoticed.

Prepare to be enchanted by the sublime artistry of equals unique, a symphony of transformation that transforms hundreds or thousands of rows into a carefully curated masterpiece. Immerse yourself in this poetic quest and unlock the mystique of finding truth amidst a sea of missteps.

Beginner

Zakir Asks: Find First Car in a Row

Find the first value in a row.

Beginner

5 Ways To Use Google Sheets for Advanced Project Management

Here are 5 advanced ways to manage projects inside of Google Sheets Manage Task Flow with IF() and a Checkbox Manage Data Inputs with IF() and ISBLANK() Create Quick Dashboard headers with: Transpose / Unique Create Pickers with Index / Match Email reports with Apps Script

Intermediate

Manage Your Wedding Guest List in Google Sheets

Learn how to manage any event with RSVPs and multiple organizers. Use Google Forms pre-filled links, and interesting formulas to manage the catering automatically. And we write Apps Script to send email to non-rsvp'ed guests.

Build a Domain Grader

Create a way to grade the quality of a domain based on many different votes and inputs and qualities. Like measuring the length and ranking the results.

How to Make An Easter Egg Hunt in a Google Sheet - by BetterSheets.co

Create a pastel colored hunting game, just in time for Easter.

Intermediate

Count How Many Subscribers In a Company by BetterSheets.co

I download it from MailChimp and then I try to figure out which companies are subscribed to me most. And I do, I have to figure out the domain and count the domain. And we're gonna do that all in Google Sheets.

Intermediate

That Viral Growing Plant Progress Chart

Create a growing flower pot from checkboxes with this bountiful formula combination. Members get free access to the sheet in the video.

Data validation Beginner

How to Count Numbers in a Row

Got this question in the Facebook Group: How to count the number of numbers in a row. I saw two possible solutions mentioned in the comments and wanted to go through why those are okay but there is a much more flexible and better solution.

Beginner

Ultimate Checklist in Google Sheets

how to create and customize checklists using Google Sheets. I show you how to add check boxes, headers, and formatting to make your checklists visually appealing. I also explain how to use conditional formatting to create a progress bar and add fun elements like easter eggs. Watch this video to learn how to make the ultimate checklist and feel free to suggest more features for future videos!

Beginner

Celebrate Your Completed Checklists

Learn how to use apps script to add emoji animations when you complete a checklist in Google Sheets.

Advanced Intermediate

Create a Branded Lead Magnet from Qualitative Data

Find out how to turn some data you can copy/paste from the web into a branded lead magnet for yourself.

Check out Josh's Tweet about the sheet.
and check out his Podia.

The video shows the importance of adding personal touches to a Google Sheet to connect better with users. It explains how to analyze the sheet's data to find trends and best practices for website content. Lastly, it discusses ways to share the sheet widely while still giving credit to its creator.

Intermediate

Access Free API's with Google Sheets

Get Kanye Quotes, Hogwarts Houses, Public Holidays, and more fun with API's in this 1 hour dive into Free APis available online and accessible in Google Sheets.
API's here: freepublicapis.com

Intermediate

Daily Writer's Word Count Tracker

Walk through creating an awesome automatic word count tracker that's easy to use and motivates the writer to keep going. With AI generated quotes from famous writers, along with simple formulas to generate states along the way.

Intermediate

Learn more about the COUNTIF() formula:

COUNTING FORMULAS

How can I count true and false?

n this tutorial, we’ll answer the question, “How can I count true and false or true or false?” The answer is if you have a column of true or false, you can use the =countif formula.

Generate a COUNTIF() formula for your needs with AI

Google Sheets Formula Generator

Whatever you need to do in sheets, you can generate a formula. Use the Better Sheets Formula generator to create a formula for any need. Completely free for members.

Asa

Looking for more help inside sheets get the free Add-on: Asa. Ask Sheets Anything. Go ahead, ask it any problem you migth have. Bring your own APIKEY and generate formulas inside of Google Sheets.