by The tutorial explains how to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas with multiple criteria in Excel based on AND as well as OR logic. You will find a number of examples for different data types - numbers, dates, text, wildcard characters, non-blank cells and more.
Of all Excel functions, COUNTIFS and COUNTIF are probably most often mixed up because they look very much alike and both are purposed for counting cells based on the specified criteria.
The difference is that COUNTIF is designed for counting cells with a single condition in one range, whereas COUNTIFS can evaluate different criteria in the same or in different ranges. The aim of this tutorial is to demonstrate different approaches and help you choose the most efficient formula for each particular task.
Excel COUNTIFS function - syntax and usage
The Excel COUNTIFS function counts cells across multiple ranges based on one or several conditions. The function is available in Excel 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, Excel 2010, and Excel 2007, so you can use the below examples in any Excel version.
COUNTIFS syntax
The syntax of the COUNTIFS function is as follows:
- criteria_range1 (required) - defines the first range to which the first condition (criteria1) shall be applied.
- criteria1 (required) - sets the condition in the form of a number, cell reference, text string, expression or another Excel function. The criteria defines which cells shall be counted and can be expressed as 10, "<=32", A6, "sweets".
- [criteria_range2, criteria2]… (optional) - these are additional ranges and their associated criteria. You can specify up to 127 range/criteria pairs in your formulas.
In fact, you don't have to remember the syntax of the COUNTIF function by heart. Microsoft Excel will display the function's arguments as soon as you start typing; the argument you are entering at the moment is highlighted in bold.
Excel COUNTIFS - things to remember!
- You can use the COUNTIFS function in Excel to count cells in a single range with a single condition as well as in multiple ranges with multiple conditions. If the latter, only those cells that meet all of the specified conditions are counted.
- Each additional range must have the same number of rows and columns as the first range (criteria_range1 argument).
- Both contiguous and non-contiguous ranges are allowed.
- If the criteria is a reference to an empty cell, the COUNTIFS function treats it as a zero value (0).
- You can use the wildcard characters in criteria - asterisk (*) and question mark (?). See this example for full details.
How to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF with multiple criteria in Excel
Below you will find a number of formula examples that demonstrate how to use the COUNTIFS and COUNTIF functions in Excel to evaluate multiple conditions.
How to count cells with multiple criteria (AND logic)
This scenario is the easiest one, since the COUNTIFS function in Excel is designed to count only those cells for which all of the specified conditions are TRUE. We call it the AND logic, because Excel's AND function works this way.
Formula 1. COUNTIFS formula with multiple criteria
Suppose you have a product list like shown in the screenshot below. You want to get a count of items that are in stock (value in column B is greater than 0) but have not been sold yet (value is column C is equal to 0).
The task can be accomplished by using this formula:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B7,">0", C2:C7,"=0")
And the count is 2 ("Cherries" and "Lemons"):
Formula 2. COUNTIFS formula with two criteria
When you want to count items with identical criteria, you still need to supply each criteria_range / criteria pair individually.
For example, here's the right formula to count items that have 0 both in column B and column C:
=COUNTIFS($B$2:$B$7,"=0", $C$2:$C$7,"=0")
This COUNTIFS formula returns 1 because only "Grapes" have "0" value in both columns.
Using a simpler formula with a single criteria_range like COUNTIFS(B2:C7,"=0") would yield a different result - the total count of cells in the range B2:C7 containing a zero (which is 4 in this example).
How to count cells with multiple criteria (OR logic)
As you have seen in the above examples, counting cells that meet all of the specified criteria is easy because the COUNTIFS function is designed to work this way.
But what if you want to count cells for which at least one of the specified conditions is TRUE, i.e. based on the OR logic? Overall, there are two ways to do this - by adding up several COUNTIF formulas or using a SUM COUNTIFS formula with an array constant.
Formula 1. Add up two or more COUNTIF or COUNITFS formulas
In the table below, supposing you want to count orders with the "Cancelled" and "Pending" status. To have it doen, you can simply write 2 regular Countif formulas and add up the results:
=COUNTIF($C$2:$C$11,"Cancelled") + COUNTIF($C$2:$C$11,"Pending")
In case each of the functions is supposed to evaluate more than one condition, use COUNTIFS instead of COUNTIF. For example, to get the count of "Cancelled" and "Pending" orders for "Apples" use this formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $C$2:$C$11,"Cancelled") + COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $C$2:$C$11,"Pending")
Formula 2. SUM COUNTIFS with an array constant
In situations when you have to evaluate a lot of criteria, the above approach is not the best way to go because your formula would grow too big in size. To perform the same calculations in a more compact formula, list all of your criteria in an array constant, and supply that array to the criteria argument of the COUNTIFS function. To get the total count, embed COUNTIFS inside the SUM function, like this:
In our sample table, to count orders with the status "Cancelled" or "Pending" or "In transit", the formula would go as follows:
=SUM(COUNTIFS($C$2:$C$11, {"cancelled", "pending", "in transit"}))
In a similar manner, you can count cells based on two or more criteria_range / criteria pairs. For instance, to get the number of "Apples" orders that are "Cancelled" or "Pending" or "In transit", use this formula:
=SUM(COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11,"apples",$C$2:$C$11,{"cancelled","pending","in transit"}))
You can find a few more ways to count cells with OR logic in this tutorial: Excel COUNTIF and COUNTIFS with OR conditions.
How to count numbers between 2 specified numbers
By and large, COUNTIFS formulas for numbers fall into 2 categories - based on several conditions (explained in the above examples) and between the two values you specify. The latter can be accomplished in two ways - by using the COUNTIFS function or by subtracting one COUNTIF from another.
Formula 1. COUNTIFS to count cells between two numbers
To find out how many numbers between 5 and 10 (not including 5 and 10) are contained in cells C2 through C10, use this formula:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C10,">5", C2:C10,"<10")
To include 5 and 10 in the count, use the "greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" operators:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B10,">=5", B2:B10,"<=10")
Formula 2. COUNTIF formulas to count numbers between X and Y
The same result can be achieved by subtracting one Countif formula from another. The first one counts how many numbers are greater than the lower bound value (5 in this example). The second formula returns the count of numbers that are greater than the upper bound value (10 in this case). The difference between the first and second number is the result you are looking for.
- =COUNTIF(C2:C10,">5")-COUNTIF(C2:C10,">=10") - counts how many numbers greater than 5 and less than 10 are in the range C2:C10. This formula will return the same count as shown in the screenshot above.
- =COUNTIF(C2:C10, ">=5")-COUNTIF(C2:C10, ">10") - the formula counts how many numbers between 5 and 10 are in the range C2:C10, including 5 and 10.
How to use cell references in COUNTIFS formulas
When using logical operators such as ">", "<", "<=" or ">=" together with cell references in your Excel COUNTIFS formulas, remember to enclose the operator in "double quotes" and
add an ampersand (&) before a cell reference to construct a text string.
In a sample dataset below, let's count "Apples" orders with amount greater than $200. With criteria_range1 in cells A2:A11 and criteria_range2 in B2:B11, you can use this formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, "Apples", $B$2:$B$11, ">200")
Or, you can input your criteria values in certain cells, say F1 and F2, and reference those cells in your formula:
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$11, $F$1, $B$2:$B$11, ">"&$F$2)
Please notice the use of absolute cell references both in the criteria and criteria_range arguments, which prevents the formula from being broken when copied to other cells.
For more information about the use of an ampersand in COUNTIF and COUNTIFS formulas, please see Excel COUNTIF - frequently asked questions.
How to use COUNTIFS with wildcard characters
In Excel COUNTIFS formulas, you can use the following wildcard characters:
- Question mark (?) - matches any single character, use it to count cells starting and/or ending with certain characters.
- Asterisk (*) - matches any sequence of characters, you use it to count cells containing a specified word or a character(s) as part of the cell's contents.
Tip. If you want to count cells with an actual question mark or asterisk, type a tilde (~) before an asterisk or question mark.
Now let's see how you can use a wildcard char in real-life COUNTIFS formulas in Excel. Suppose, you have a list of projects in column A. You wish to know how many projects are already assigned to someone, i.e. have any name in column B. And because we are learning how to use the COUNTIFS function with multiple criteria, let's add a second condition - the End Date in column D should also be set.
Here is the formula that works a treat:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B10,"*",D2:D10,"<>"&""))
Please note, you cannot use a wildcard character in the 2nd criteria because you have dates rather that text values in column D. That is why, you use the criteria that finds non-blank cells: "<>"&""
COUNTIFS and COUNTIF with multiple criteria for dates
The COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas you use for dates are very much similar to the above formulas for numbers.
Example 1. Count dates in a specific date range
To count the dates that fall in a certain date range, you can also use either a COUNTIFS formula with two criteria or a combination of two COUNTIF functions.
For example, the following formulas count the number of dates in cells C2 through C10 that fall between 1-Jun-2014 and 7-Jun-2014, inclusive:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, ">=6/1/2014", C2:C9, "<=6/7/2014")
=COUNTIF(C2:C9, ">=6/1/2014") - COUNTIF(C2:C9, ">6/7/2014")
Example 2. Count dates with multiple conditions
In the same manner, you can use a COUNTIFS formula to count the number of dates in different columns that meet 2 or more conditions. For instance, the below formula will find out how many products were purchased after the 20th of May and delivered after the 1st of June:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, ">5/1/2014", D2:D9, ">6/7/2014")
Example 3. Count dates with multiple conditions based on the current date
You can use Excel's TODAY() function in combination with COUNTIF to count dates based on the current date.
For example, the following COUNTIF formula with two ranges and two criteria will tell you how many products have already been purchased but not delivered yet.
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, "<"&TODAY(), D2:D9, ">"&TODAY())
This formula allows for many possible variations. For instance, you can tweak it to count how many products were purchased more than a week ago and are not delivered yet:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C9, "<="&TODAY()-7, D2:D9, ">"&TODAY())
This is how you count cells with multiple criteria in Excel. I hope you will find these examples helpful. Anyway, I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!
2039 comments
Trying to simplyfy the below functions:
C D
0 On Board
0A On Board
1A
3 On Board
=COUNTIFS(HK!C4:C8,"=0",HK!D4:D8,"=On Board")+COUNTIFS(HK!C4:C8,"=0A",HK!D4:D8,"=On Board")+COUNTIFS(HK!C4:C8,"=1",HK!D4:D8,"=On Board")+COUNTIFS(HK!C4:C8,"=1A",HK!D4:D8,"=On Board")
Tried this ... but no luck :(
=COUNTIFS(HK!C4:C8,{"=0","=0A","=1","=1A"},HK!D4:D8,"=On Board")
Need urgent help please..
Thanks
There's a File A and a File B, both in xls
Both have the two columns each of the same names, say, "1" and "2".
File A has 100 records. File B has 150 records.
We need to add a column "3" to File B, and put a value 'NotFound' in it if the value in "1" is not found anywhere in A's column "1".
After that is done, we need to repeat, in reverse. That is, add a column "3" to File A, and put a value "NotFound" in it if the value in A's "1" is not found anywhere in B's column "1".
Trying to create a count for check (Tick) marks (where "P" is a tick). I can have multiple ticks per box in Excel. Currently it wants to add each tick. If I add 1 more tick to a box (2 ticks in a box) it will subtract it instead of add on to my current total. How do I fix this?
My current syntax:
=COUNTIFS(C7:C25, "P", C7:C25, "P")
Please help. I need to be able to track my work.
Thanks.
my 1st column data is- =+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$H$5:$H$38,"D") this one
when i scroll it 2nd column the data is- =+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$H$5:$H$38,"D") this one
my question is why not data scrolled by column reference,where ever the data wants =+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$I$5:$I$38,"D")
plz chk and tell me the soluation
Thanks
CHUMAN
Dear All,
I need your help to show the total time spent between multiple two cells repeatedly.
For example, I'm starting my work by capturing the start time in A1 & ending at A2 and I'm getting the difference in A3 using the formula =A2-A1. After a short break, I'm again starting the time in A1 & ending in A2. Then what is the formula to be used to calculate the total timing spent in A4.
I have two columns, column 1- Dates, column 2- Names.
01/02/2015 ARYA
01/02/2015 ARYA
01/02/2015 ARYA
02/02/2015 ARYA
From the above example, I want the count to reflect 2, in other words I would want it to count as a single occurrence per day i.e., 01/02 - one occurrence & 02/02 one occurrence. Please help me with this. Please help me without date ranges as i need to use it for the entire year for different names.
when i scroll from one column to another column it have changes of his values
ie
=+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$H$5:$H$38,"D")
another one =+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$H$5:$H$38,"D") only copied where i want =+COUNTIFS($G$5:$G$38,"ACTUAL",$I$5:$I$38,"D")
Hi Svetlana,
If there are two columns A and B with following data:
A B
Apple 1
Banana 1
Orange 3
Apple 1
Apple 1
Banana 1
Banana 1
Banana 1
Banana 1
In the above data I would first like to search in column B for value 1 and then count only unique values in column A in such a manner that the function returns 2 (i.e., Apple and Banana). Is this possible and if so how can it be done?
I have data in Column F. The data is like either "M" or "MH", either "E" or "EH", either "N" or "NH". This is for counting Shifts.
I am using formula to count : =COUNTIFS(F4:F30,"=E",F4:F30,"=EH") for counting Evening Shifts. But it is givining me value as 0 (Zero). Please let me know where am I wrong.
Thanks for your help in advance.
I'm trying to get a total count of the values in one column, i.e. "Y100" and with all rows that contain that y100 count the number of cells in another column. i.e. "A". I've tried =COUNTIFS('Mods (Entire)'!B:B,"Y100",'Mods (Entire)'!C:C,"A") and =COUNTIFS('Mods (Entire)'!B:B,"=Y100",'Mods (Entire)'!C:C,"=A") both come back with a count of zero. Any and all help is greatly appreciated, will send sample if needed.
From the example above, if you use the following:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B11,"=0", C2:C11,"=0", D2:D11,"=0")
it will count from the row only if all three meet the criteria
however if you do:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B11,">0", C2:C11,">0", D2:D11,">0")
It will count from the row if any one, two, or all of the values is greater than 0
q1: how is that logical?
q2: How do I do the operation so that it counts only if all three satisfy the criteria
help on how to set COUNTIF to count only cell with >=25% but <=29% only,, meaning count only cells when it contains 25% and below 30%
I am trying to figure out a formal that would highlight a certain cell if a X appears a certain number of times within a certain data range. I am trying to work on an attendance sheet where i need the persons name to highlight if the attended 3 items in one data range and 2 in another data range and have data in another field that contains a drop drown list. I think i need to do a sum countif but I can't figure out how to set to highlight if a certain number within the data field is meet.
I want to count how many nonzero cells exists. All cells are time formatted. I am populating with elapsed time.
Column A - 0:00
Column B - 8:05
Column C - 9:22
I should get result as 2.
I am working with something like this:
COLUMN A COLUMN B COL.C COL.D
load# trailer# scac loc
uc856489 85694 SXTI y182
54852 SXTI y345
uc854585 95484 TAMI y652
45584524 6382 TAMI Y212
54585 SXTI Y121
UC845845 12548 JRWS Y222
I'm trying to find a rule that will let me see if there is get a count of empty trailers on the yard by scac code "SXTI" (COL C) BUT I don't want to calculate the loaded SXTI trailers (WHEN COLUMN A SHOWS A 3 STARTING WITH UC* OR 455) I was going to make a line for each scac code on a different sheet with the rule cell next to it just showing the number. Is there a way that will work for this? I have tried many combinations but can't seem to get it to work.
Hi,
Can you please help?
Example:
- M M N N
M V V D D
M V V V
N D V D E
N V E E
WE need do know how many "V" we have in the table with the conditions (Horizontal/Vertical) M/N ; M/N ; N/M ; N/M
The result is:
M/N = 1
M/M = 4
N/M = 2
N/M = 0
Many thanks in advance.
=COUNTIFS(C12>F12,">=1", C21>F21,">=1") ???
Basically looking to have a total for wins and losses in a sports results column.
So if 71 (C12) is greater than 70 (F12) give it a value of 1 (a win), then add that to the next line (C21) if that is a value of 1 as well.
I have 5 columns,
1. Date In
2. Time In
3. Date Out
4. Time Out
5. Date to count
I have a long list of these dates and times and want to find out by date and hour how many occurrences.
7a-8a
8a-9a
9-10a etc.
How do I assemble countifs to produce the hourly data?
Countifs(A1:A31,E1,B1:B31,">="&TIMEVALUE("7:00 AM"),B1:B31,="&TIMEVALUE("7:00 AM"),D1:D31,<="&TIMEVALUE"("8:00 AM")
I can't get to this to work so it shows between the in and out times and date.
Thank you,
Mike
HI,
I HAVE A EXCEL SHEET CONTAINS PERVIOUES HEALTH CHECK UP DATES AND I HAVE CREATED GRADES ACCORDIGNLY,
WANT TO FIX DATE FOR THE GRADES AS MENTION BELOW
IF GRADE A MEANS HAVE TO GET THE DATE OF NEXT HEALTH CHECK UP FROM PREVIOUS CHECK UPDATE WITH 180 DAYS ADDED
hi dear i dont have knowledg of excel formulas so plz guide me how learn a advance excel formula.
and i need your advice.