Count how many values are in a list of arguments
COUNTA(value1, [value2], ...)
COUNTA defines up to 255 'values to count' including individual values (1,"text",3), cell references (A1,A2,A3), ranges (A1:A3) or a mix of all three.
All text and numbers including negative values, percentages, dates, fractions, and times are counted by the COUNTA function. Empty cells are ignored.
To just count numerical values, use the COUNT function. To count numbers that meet certain criteria, use the COUNTIF (single criterion) or the COUNTIFS (multiple criteria) function. To count empty cells, use the COUNTBLANK function.
COUNTA text and numbers.
In the examples below, the COUNTA function is used to count values in contiguous and non-contiguous ranges.
Use the COUNTA function to count how many values are in a list of arguments.
Syntax
=COUNTA(value1, [value2], ...)
The COUNTA function consists of up to 255 arguments:
- value1. Required. The first value to count.
- value2. Optional. The second value to count.
- .... Optional. Additional values (up to 255) to count.
Try it now!
- Enter your formulas into the grey cells.
Scope
COUNTA can be applied to cell references, ranges, named ranges, tables, constants and arrays.
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=COUNTA(C3,C5,C7) |
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=COUNTA(C3:C7) |
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=COUNTA(myNamedRange) |
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=COUNTA(Table1[ColumnName]) |
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=COUNTA(number1,text2,number3,...) |
Caveats
The COUNTA function:
- can handle up to 255 individual arguments.
- will ignore empty cells (but not cells that contain empty strings "") and will return the count of any text, numeric or TRUE/FALSE values.
- will automatically update if rows or columns within the range referenced in the formula are deleted. This prevents a #REF! error.
- will update to include added rows or columns (assuming they are within the range referenced in the formula).
Related Functions
- COUNT: to count numbers.
- COUNTBLANK: to count empty cells.
- COUNTIF: to count values in a range that meet a single criteria.
- COUNTIFS: to count values in a range that meet multiple criteria.
Functions Category