The COUNT function is a powerful tool that can be used to count the number of cells in a data set. The COUNT function can be used to count the number of cells in a data set, or to count the number of rows and columns in a data set. The COUNT function can also be used to compare two sets of data, or to compare two sets of cells. To use the COUNT function, you first need to create a worksheet. Then, you need to use the COUNT function on one or more data sets. The COUNT function can be used on any type of data set, including text files, Excel spreadsheets, and database files. The first step in using the COUNT function is to create a worksheet. To create a new sheet, click on the New button at the top of your screen. Then, enter an name for your new sheet into the text box that appears. You can also enter some basic information about your new sheet such as its dimensions and its contents. Next, you need to use the COUNT function on one or more data sets. To do this, you first need to select one or more data sets from within your workbook. Then, you need to click on the Count button at the bottom of your screen. The Count button will allow you to select one or more cells in each data set that you want to counted. You can then click on OK when prompted for confirmation. When you have selected all of your desired cells for counting, click on OK again and then click on Counting Data Set 1 at the bottom of your screen. This will start counting cells in Data Set 1 and will continue counting until it has counted all of its desired cells (or until it has reached 0). If there are any errors while counting Cells in Data Set 1 (for example if there are too many errors), then these errors will be displayed at the bottom of your screen while


Counting how many cells contain numbers is a basic and useful task. With this in mind, Microsoft Excel gives you a handy function to save you from counting cells manually. The function is COUNT and here’s how to use it.

You may have a column full of both numbers and text where you only want the total count of the cells with numbers. You might even want this type of count for an entire sheet or ranges of nonadjacent cells. All of this can be done with the COUNT function.

What You Can Count With COUNT

The COUNT function counts cells with numbers but also includes dates, currency, percentages, numbers enclosed in quotes, and numbers in a table or pivot table in Excel.

It does not count logical values, text, or errors containing numbers.

There are variations of the COUNT function such as COUNTIF for counting cells with certain criteria and also COUNTBLANK for empty cells. Be sure to check out our how-tos for these variations as well.

Use the COUNT Function in Excel

To get started, open your workbook and head to the sheet you want to use in Excel. Go to the cell where you want to display the result of the formula. You can then use the Count Numbers option in the Sum list or enter the formula manually.

To use the Count Numbers option, go to the Home tab. Click the Sum button in the Editing section of the ribbon and select “Count Numbers.”

This method works great for basic counts like one cell range. For more complicated situations, you can enter the formula containing the function.

The syntax for the function is COUNT(value1, value2,…) where value1 is required and value2 is optional.

To start simple, you can obtain the count for cells with numbers in the range A2 through A11, using the following formula:

You can see here, each cell in our range contains a number. This gives us the total count of 10.

If that same range of cells contains text in five of the 10 cells, the formula’s result is 5.

To obtain the count for nonadjacent cell ranges A2 through A6 and B6 through B11, you would use this formula:

You can include even more cell ranges, if necessary, with the COUNT function. This formula counts the cells in A2 through A11, C2 through C11, and E2 through E11.

For other ways to obtain counts in Microsoft Excel, take a look at how to count colored cells or how to count cells with text.

RELATED: How to Count Cells in Microsoft Excel