Countif with wildcard and cell reference. We also discussed the use of wildcards (* and ?).

Countif with wildcard and cell reference The generic syntax is COUNTIF(range, criteria), where "range" contains the cells to count, and "criteria" is a condition that must be true for a cell to be counted. Is it possible to use "*A1*" or something like that in any capacity? Dec 17, 2024 · The COUNTIF function in Excel is a powerful tool used to count cells that meet specific criteria, whether it's an exact match or a partial match. Is it possible to use those asterisks alongside the cell reference in the formula (I3) so that the cell only contains "Steve" but the COUNTIF function looks up *Steve*? Or is there another formula that can count all cells containing the string "Steve" without adding asterisks to each name in the list? Archived post. Both functions support various comparison operators and wildcards. Excel COUNTIF function counts the number of cells in a range that meet specified condition in a range. You could simply use a wildcard (an asterisk, *, is a wildcard in Excel) in your COUNTIF formula like this: =COUNTIF(A5:A9,"*apples*") Your result will be 4. Aug 30, 2024 · How to use wildcards with COUNTIF Using wildcards with the COUNTIF function brings you a whole new level of ease. Mar 14, 2023 · The tutorial shows how to make Excel IF statement with wildcard text and get it to work for partial matches. Whether you need to count text values, numbers, blank cells, boolean TRUE or FALSE, or apply complex conditions, the COUNTIF function can simplify the task. Cell references improve flexibility – Using references instead of hardcoded values lets you easily update criteria. Wildcard characters such as the asterisk “ * “, question mark “? ” and tilde “ ~ ” can greatly extend searching, counting, and additional functionality of functions such as AVERAGEIF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, Excel database functions, and others. COUNTIF Function Overview You can use the COUNTIF function in Excel to count cells that contain a specific value, count cells that are greater than or equal to a value, etc. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is: =COUNTIF (data,"*a*") In this formula, data is the named range B5:B15. COUNTIFS builds on this by letting you apply multiple conditions at once Jun 21, 2024 · COUNTIFS counts values which match one or more criteria from a range. Criteria can include logical operators (>, Mar 13, 2025 · The Excel COUNTIF function counts the number of cells in a range that meet a specific condition, such as matching text, numbers, dates, or wildcard characters. We also have a ques­tion mark that rep­re­sents just one sin­gle sign (Fig. While the basic COUNTIFS function is widely used, mastering advanced techniques can significantly improve your data analysis efficiency. In case you use a logical operator and cell reference as criteria for the COUNTIFS function in a formula, and you do not concatenate the cell reference to the logical operator by inserting & before the cell reference, the function will return a 0 instead of the expected count. Mar 30, 2025 · Cell references and wildcards are powerful tools in Excel that, when combined, can significantly enhance your data search capabilities. But COUNTIFS goes a step further with the addition of that letter — S. Learn how to count cells that meet specific criteria, streamline your data analysis, and become an Excel pro. When combined with wildcards, the COUNTIF function Explanation: COUNTIF function count the cells given criteria Criteria is given in using * (asterisk) wildcard to look for value which has any number of characters. I believe that countif allows wildcard characters, but maybe I am wrong. Here, you will find 7 actions to take when COUNTIFS is not working. By using the COUNTIF function you can count cells that contain Dates Numbers Text The COUNTIF function also supports logical operators (>,<,<>,=) as criteria and you also can use the wildcards (*,?) for partial matching. It's essentially just performing separate checks, in sequence, which allows you to search for different value types (in this case string wildcard + cell value + string wildcard). The syntax of the Using Wildcards * & ? in Excel SUMIFS and COUNTIFS Functions This tutorial explores the use of the wildcard characters * and ?, both of which can be used within the criteria arguments of the COUNTIFS and SUMIFS function. COUNTIF is truly a powerful function that can be used in a wide selection of real-life situations. The COUNTIF function is usually a quick, go-to solution. Mar 13, 2017 · 0 I have a set of data cells B1:C5 with Tests that are a mix of Alphanumeric characters along with data next to it. For example, you can use COUNTIF to count how many times a specific word appears in a list or identify cells containing partial matches Mar 5, 2024 · How to use COUNTIF Function in Excel The syntax of the COUNTIF function is very simple. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is: =COUNTIF(B5:B15,"*a*") The result is 6, since there are six cells in B5:B15 that contain the letter "a". Standard counting functions like COUNTIF function are inherently designed for exact matches unless modified. Changing the "*" wild card character to an actual number (such as "=1978") returns the correct value of 1, as there is only one room number 1978 in the range. If the list is: Raft Rafts Raft (Anna) Draftland: The Magic Revival It is counting 4, but I want it to return just the entries starting with 'Raft'. "*bread*" counts all cells with the word bread in it) but I want that wildcard to be variable. I successfully wrote a formula to do this: =COUNTIF(range,"*red*") for example will count all the instances of "red", however I would like to use a reference instead of writing the term in the formula. You can use the wildcard characters— the question mark (?) and asterisk (*) — in criteria. Is there anything else that could possibly work? Jun 8, 2025 · Master Excel's COUNTIF function with this comprehensive guide covering syntax, examples, and advanced techniques for conditional counting in spreadsheets. Jul 11, 2024 · Master the COUNTIF function in Excel with our easy-to-follow tutorial. You will find a number of examples for different data types – numbers, dates, text, wildcard characters, non-blank cells and more. Wildcards, on the Aug 17, 2022 · To count cells that contain certain text, you can use the COUNTIF function with a wildcard. I used IF(cell="?",1,0) in a helper column for my cells and then summed it, but with this blank cells gave 0 which skewed the total number. Feb 19, 2004 · I do reference needing to use wildcards, but only specific locations not using the *, but using the ? To accomplish my task I have done the following: In column B of sheet OnHand I added a helped formula: =LEFT (TRIM (A2),8) which returns just the left 8 In my main sheet in column D I added a helper column with the following formula in it: Using Wildcards – *, ? and ~ within COUNTIFS and SUMIFS Functions Wildcards are useful when you want to specify partial criteria such as “begins with”, “ends with” or “contains”. Here’s the basic formula: = COUNTIF(range, criteria) “ range ” – the group of cells you want to check (e. Oct 28, 2023 · I am trying to create a partial match COUNTIF (G Sheets) that pulls in a wildcard + a specific character (~) + a cell reference. with the following contrived table: I want to have a dropdown menu using Data Validation that allows the user to select 1, 2 Excel 365, Windows, Desktop, Beginner. g. Here comes a list of fruits. Sep 3, 2015 · In this tutorial, learn how to use multiple criteria in Excel COUNTIF and COUNTIFS functions. To count empty cells, use the COUNTBLANK function. if a cell contains X, Y or Z. Sep 16, 2008 · Now, I need to count how many cells in the range START WITH the value in E26. Left Lookup with VLookup Excel function. And this time, we want to count the fruits with seven characters in their name. The syntax for the COUNTIF function is thus combination of two arguments: =COUNTIF(range, criteria) Range Dec 11, 2013 · Re: Wildcard not working in my COUNTIFS Wildcards only work with text, dates are numbers so you can't use them in that way - if you want to include all of September 2014 then you need a start and end date, e. COUNTIF uses one range and criteria, while COUNTIFS can handle multiple range/criteria pairs. This article explains the logic of the COUNTIF formula with some practical Feb 3, 2025 · Use cell references for dynamic counting and use "$" to lock cell references when dragging COUNTIF formulas. Aug 3, 2025 · Cell references can be used in the criteria and range arguments of the COUNTIF function in Excel, allowing for dynamic counting based on changing cell values. And this formula: = COUNTIF (A1:A100,"???") Counts all cells in A1:A100 that contain exactly 3 characters. Among its vast array of functions, COUNTIF stands out as a straightforward yet potent feature that enables users to count cells based on specific criteria within a range. I am trying to create a formula for cells B8:C10 that will parse through the data in A2:C5 and, using the CountIfS function, count the number of cells that match the specimen and value 1. Understanding how to effectively use cell references allows you to create dynamic formulas that automatically update when your data changes. In some instances, though, it can provide erroneous results. In this advanced tutorial, we show examples of using the COUNTIF function with operators other If the criteria argument is a reference to an empty cell, the COUNTIFS function treats the empty cell as a 0 value. Fig. For the best help attach a sample workbook to your post Attention - ExcelForum Rules have been updated as of August 2023. 1 Wildcards Let’s start with count­ing all cells with text. Check out the real-life counting spreadsheet formulas. The COUNTIFS function in Excel is a powerful tool for counting cells that meet multiple criteria. If a user is believed to have used such tools to provide a forum answer, sanctions may be imposed. Mar 17, 2023 · The tutorial explains how to use Excel's COUNTIF and COUNTIFS functions to count cells with multiple OR conditions, e. “ criteria ” – What you’re counting: this can be a number, text, a cell reference, or a condition. Introduction to Wildcards in Excel Counting Functions When analyzing large datasets in Excel, users often encounter scenarios where they need to count cells based on criteria that are not exact matches but contain specific substrings or patterns. Left Lookup, with Index, Match & Offset Excel functions. Jul 15, 2024 · In this article, we will demonstrate how to use wildcards in Excel. COUNTIF function in Google Sheets is explained with syntax, examples, and advanced use cases, including criteria, ranges, wildcards, and dynamic arrays. In that tutorial we show various examples using the "equals" operator, which is the default. For instance, A1-A9 are either "series a" or "series b", B1-B9 have multiple companies Jul 8, 2023 · You can create elaborated conditions with the function SUMIFS or COUNTIFS with wildcard or greater and lower test. What I'm looking for is a formula to count partial matches within columns A & C against an exact match in column B. In this article, we will provide a complete guide with formula examples and troubleshooting techniques for the COUNTIF function in Google Sheets. Mar 4, 2022 · This tutorial explains how to use COUNTIF with wildcard characters in Google Sheets, including examples. Criteria can include logical operators (>, Aug 22, 2023 · The tutorial explains how to use COUNTIFS and COUNTIF formulas with multiple criteria in Excel based on AND as well as OR logic. May 12, 2024 · In this example, the goal is to use the COUNTIFS function to count data with "OR logic". I'm not sure how to format the function so that is uses cell reference that is more specific, but not so specific that I use a Hello I have the below formula that counts the number of employees based on a few conditions. Know that COUNTIFS is not case Oct 24, 2025 · Tips The best way to use COUNTIF with dates is to refer to a valid date in another cell with a cell reference. I am trying to make a summary COUNTIF for each occurrence of a status. The range contains entries which in turn contain multiple things, so I need to use wildcards. Jun 28, 2024 · 6 easy & suitable methods to count date range in excel. Formula examples to count blank and non-blank cells, with values greater than, less than or equal to the number you specify, duplicates or unique, or based on another cell values, COUNTIF formulas with multiple conditions. For example, the number of cells that the HR department appears in. This is where the powerful utility of Jan 7, 2025 · The second parameter of the COUNTIF function is used to specify the criteria to be used when determining what should be counted. We modified the dataset for this example, adding the expiry date of the products. How can I do the same COUNTIF formula as listed above in an external sheet? Mar 22, 2023 · Learn the basics of COUNTIF function in Excel. To do so, write the COUNTIF function as follows: Mar 14, 2023 · Everything you need to know about wildcards: what wildcard characters Excel recognizes, and how to best use them with built-in features and in formulas with text and numbers. Bonus tips for using cell and named references in COUNTIF include using wildcard Jul 1, 2024 · 22 Examples of COUNTIF Excel The COUNTIF function is an Excel function which counts cells in a particular range that meet a single criterion/condition. Jun 8, 2025 · The Excel COUNTIFS function returns the count of cells in a range that meet one or more conditions. May 9, 2023 · To maximize efficiency and accuracy when using cell and named references in COUNTIF, it’s important to understand absolute and relative references, how to use wildcards, and how to handle errors. In this tutorial, we explain how exactly how it works with examples. However, its true power is unleashed when combined with wildcards, particularly the asterisk ` `. This wildcard serves as a placeholder for any number of characters, enabling COUNTIF to perform more dynamic and inclusive searches within your data Feb 3, 2023 · Count cells with text, COUNTIF func­tion and wildcards For me, the sim­plest solu­tion is using the COUNTIF func­tion and wild­cards. First, we have to select Learn how to use the COUNTIF function in Excel for partial matching, including wildcard characters, with helpful examples and explanations. 4. Download our Excel workbook, modify data, exercise & find new results with formulas! Feb 5, 2023 · This Tutorial demonstrates how to use the ExcelCOUNTIF and COUNTIFS Functions in Excel to count data that meet certain criteria. It’s useful to learn how to use the COUNTIF Excel function because we often want to know how many items in a large dataset are alike in a particular way. Nov 3, 2006 · I have a large set of data that I am trying to use the countifs formula to count how many times a particular company is listed in a column. Nov 11, 2025 · The formula contains asterisks (*) as wildcards to count the matching contents referenced by cell D5. COUNTIF greater than Oct 16, 2023 · The use of AI tools (e. Here, the COUNTIF function does not consider D5 used in the criteria argument as a cell reference but rather as text. Mar 25, 2024 · Wildcard characters not working in COUNTIFS function Hi y'all, this was a real brain scratcher for me, I gave up and went to the internet looking for answers. What is the COUNTIF function? The COUNTIF function in Excel counts the number of cells which satisfy a single condition or criteria. We have an aster­is k that rep­re­sents any text string, even an emp­ty one. This can include dates and cell references, as well. Feb 12, 2015 · My read on Indirect says that it simply uses the cell reference contained in the cell you specify in the function: Indirect( cellContainingReference ) In this case, you don't need to specify the second parameter of Indirect. With COUNTIF, you can do a wildcard search by using \* (asterisk). xls]Name!A:A,"*"&A1&"*") Along those lines, I am doing a COUNTIF using external link and it results in #VALUE!. =IFERROR (COUNTIFS (Staff_Register [New / Current… Jul 28, 2024 · Here, we’ll insert date values in the COUNTIFS function using cell references, and use the EDATE function for previous or future dates. Each condition is provided with a separate range and criteria, and all conditions must be TRUE for a cell to be included in the count. COUNTIF can be used to count cells that contain dates, numbers, and text. Basic COUNTIF Example This example demonstrates counting cells that contain a specific value. Feb 23, 2022 · Learn how to use the COUNTIF function in Google Sheets to perform conditional counts across ranges of data in your Google Sheets. In the example shown, the formula in cell E5 is: =COUNTIF (data,D5) where data is the named range B5:B16. Jan 11, 2025 · Excel COUNTIF function allows you to count the number of cells that meet specific criteria or conditions in the given range. Turned out I did have blank cells, which is why my COUNTIF () didnt give the result I was expecting. COUNTIF performs a conditional count by evaluating cells within a range based on a specified condition. To count numbers only, use the COUNT function. This tip looks at why this occurs and suggests ways to deal with the wrong results. The company will be listed with other companies in that cell. Let’s start with an example. Jun 27, 2025 · Introduction to COUNTIF and COUNTIFS Functions in Google Sheets COUNTIF allows you to count cells that meet a single condition, ideal for scenarios like counting sales above a certain value or tasks marked as completed. COUNTIFS function The COUNTIFS function returns the count of cells that meet one or more criteria, and supports logical operators (>,<,<>,=) and wildcards (*,?) for partial matching. For example xxxxxx~J28~xxxxxx. So, using the assumptions: sheetName is in cell D85 cellRange is always R:R criteria for counting is in cell B98 (which does not need Indirect to work) Your excel uses Jan 15, 2015 · My mistake. The COUNTIFS Excel function is especially useful when you want to count the number of cells that meet several criteria. The COUNTIF function will work nicely with logical operators such as greater than > less than < does not equal <> is equal, wildcards * ? for partial cell matching. As everyone knows, Excel COUNTIF function is designed to count cells based on just one criterion while COUNTIFS evaluates multiple criteria with AND logic. The challenge is the COUNTIFS function applies AND logic by default. That count returned a 0 so I'm back to the drawing board. Dec 28, 2024 · The COUNTIF function can be very handy when searching a range of cells for values. A wildcard is a special character that lets you perform "fuzzy" matching on text in your Excel formulas. It is an easy-to-use function with the following general syntax, Mastering the COUNTIF Function with Wildcards in Excel: 7 Effective Methods Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used extensively for data analysis, management, and reporting. chatGPT, BARD, GPT4 etc) to create forum answers is not permitted. IF part specifies condition or criteria to check each cell in range and COUNT gives total of those cells which meet that criteria or condition. . Enclose criteria arguments in quotes “” when they contain something else than a cell reference or &. Jun 8, 2025 · The Excel COUNTIF function returns the count of cells in a range that meet a single condition. To count numbers and text, use the COUNTA function. Unlock new efficiency and precision in your spreadsheet tasks today. Using COUNTIFS() to exclude blank cells fixes my issue. (Notice how the formula inputs appear) COUNTIF Function Syntax and Arguments: =COUNTIF(range The COUNTIF Formula The COUNTIF formula counts the number of cells that meets a condition or criteria. I tried both: ""&&quot Flexible with wildcards – Use *, ?, or ~ to match partial text or literal wildcard characters. 2. If the criteria argument is a reference to an empty cell, the COUNTIFS function treats the empty cell as a 0 value. Column 1 has names in it, Column 2 has dates (in this very format, no spaces between the characters). Oct 28, 2022 · I have a list of cell with different conditions under a column called &quot;Status&quot;. Available wildcards Excel has 3 wildcards you can use in Dec 2, 2024 · If you use a logical operator and a cell reference as criteria for the ACCOUNT function in a formula and do not concatenate the cell reference to the logical operator by entering & before the cell reference, the function will return a 0 instead of the expected number. However, the flexibility of the function allows for many criteria, including wildcard characters for partial matching, named ranges, other cell references, and even the use of other Excel functions. 1). By using the COUNTIF function with wildcards, you can easily count data that partially matches a specific string. COUNTIF using Wildcards What say you wanted to count the number of cells containing the word ‘apple’ in this table. Named references provide a way to easily reference cells or ranges of cells by a specific name, making COUNTIF formulas more readable and easier to manage. COUNTIFS works for multiple conditions. , A1:A10). Single mentions are easy, like &quot; COUNTIF for Non-Contiguous Cells, COUNTIF with Wildcard Characters, COUNTIF for Date Range (s) Related Links: 1. & operator concatenate the two values where it lays "*" & E4 : criteria, formula checks each cell and returns only the cells which satisfies the criteria Here the range is given as array reference and pattern is given as cell Aug 4, 2023 · Google Spreadsheet COUNTIF in practice Count cells with text and numbers (exact match) Google Spreadsheet COUNTIF function and wildcard characters (partial match) COUNTIF Google Sheets for less than, greater than or equal to Google Spreadsheet COUNTIF with multiple criteria Count in Google Sheets with multiple criteria — AND logic How to use the COUNTIF function in Excel to count the number of cells that meet values you set. As you probably guessed, it combines the functionality of the COUNT function with that of the IF function, much like the COUNTIF function. May 11, 2025 · As we learned in our Introduction to the COUNTIF Function, the COUNTIF function counts the number of cells in a cell range whose values meet certain criteria. It is combination of IF and COUNT functions. The count returns "0", which is incorrect. 2 days ago · The COUNTIF function in Google Sheets is used for counting cells that meet specific criteria. Aug 31, 2011 · And no, it's not an expletive. The COUNTIF function in Excel allows you to only count the number of cells that meet certain criteria. These rules apply to everyone for the benefit of all, please take a moment now to 3. In this article, we will explore the advanced capabilities of the COUNTIFS function in Excel, including wildcard applications, complex conditional logic, array May 30, 2025 · Excel wildcard characters are special symbols (*, ?, and ~) used in functions like COUNTIF(), SEARCH(), and VLOOKUP() to represent unknown characters. To count using multiple conditions, use the COUNTIFS function. Explained: The COUNTIF Function in the Excel The COUNTIF function in Excel is used to count the number of cells that meet the specific criteria. Sep 7, 2023 · I need a Countif function to run with 2 greater/lesser statements based off of other cells I tried =COUNTIF ($M$2:$M, ">="&P2,"<="&Q2)and the first one doesn't work but I don't know why, the second is giving obviously wrong answers Apr 27, 2017 · I cant for the life of me get the escapes working correctly for my macro. The results do not reflect the correct count unless I open the data source file. Conditions are supplied to COUNTIFS in the form of Dec 13, 2024 · How to Count Partial Matches in a Range Using COUNTIF (with Wildcards) This article explains how to count partial matches in Excel. **COUNTIF with wildcard search and cell reference** The asterisk looks for any number of characters. Learn how to effectively use the COUNTIF function in Excel with wildcards to count specific text patterns. I know I can use wildcards in my count: =COUNTIF ($D$10:$S$25,"GOOD*") But how can I combine the contents of the referenced cell with the wildcard? See full list on statology. Use wildcard characters for text elements to save time. When using COUNTIFS with multiple criteria in Excel, read and follow these tips to avoid unwanted results: Make sure additional ranges have the same number of cells, rows and columns as criteria_range1. COUNTIF with `` In the realm of Excel, the COUNTIF function is a versatile tool that allows users to count cells that meet a specified criterion. Nov 21, 2025 · The COUNTIFS Google Sheets fucntion counts cells that match more than one criteria. I've tried using this formula with wildcard references but it isn't working: Can Excel COUNTIFS function use a wildcard to match numeric data? E. For example, this formula: = COUNTIF (B5:B11,"*combo") counts all cells in the range B5:B11 that end with the text "combo". If you want that criteria to include a cell reference, it can be confusing to make the reference work properly. Aug 23, 2004 · Welcome to the board! Try: =COUNTIF ( [Book1. Hi, the COUNTIF function I'm using is =COUNTIFS ( [Games],"*"& [@Games]&"*"). We also discussed the use of wildcards (* and ?). Feb 10, 2025 · To count cells that do not contain certain text, you can use the COUNTIF function with a wildcard. Apr 4, 2025 · This table compares the two functions. Earlier, you learned that you can use logical and wildcard operators. org Jul 1, 2022 · Have you tried something like this? =COUNTIF('Game Log'!H3:H102, "*" & B2 & "*") That ought to look for any string value, followed by the cell value, followed again by any string value. 3. Related functions - How to use COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK- Wildcards, greater than or less than searches- How to count numbers, text, and blanks in Excel- Filtering Discover how to use wildcards in Excel to find and analyze data with partial information. Jul 11, 2024 · As you have just seen, using the COUNTIF function in Excel is very easy. Aug 17, 2022 · The COUNTIF function in Excel allows you to only count the number of cells that meet certain criterion. Let’s see how through the example below. Here's my situation: I have two columns. Aug 14, 2017 · To verify I opened a new workbook, entered today's date in cell C1 and typed "08/15/2017 EAS - PROCESSED ORDER" in cell C2 then tried the formula below (=COUNTIF (C2, TEXT (C1, "mm/dd/yyyy")&"*EAS - PROCESSED ORDER*"). If your COUNTIF criteria is a reference to an empty cell, the COUNTIF function treats it as a zero value (0). Handles advanced logical conditions – You can combine multiple conditions, including ranges and comparisons, for precise counting. I want to use COUNTIFS with a wildcard (e. Excel VLOOKP Function, with examples. Jun 17, 2024 · We will learn four solutions that can be taken when the COUNTIF function is returning 0 in Excel effectively with appropriate illustrations Jul 8, 2010 · using the wildcard character "*" to account for the leading numbers. I am trying to input a Countif function that uses wildcards on either side of a cell reference value, it also finds the las Understanding Different Criteria Options in the Excel COUNTIFS () Function The Excel COUNTIFS () function provides a large variety of criteria options. This function is incredibly useful for managing large datasets, analyzing trends, or summarizing data quickly. The COUNTIF function can be easily combined with arithmetic operators to create complex formulas and perform tedious tasks. Explained with practical examples. What Are Wildcards? Wildcards are symbols that represent any characters in a string. Aug 22, 2022 · COUNTIF lets you count data on a specific criterion. Vlookup Multiple Values – Return MULTIPLE corresponding values for ONE Lookup Value. Dec 6, 2022 · To count the number of cells that begin with specific text, you can use the COUNTIF function with a wildcard. kxxwe idcf ggz juyg epxax fve lxtt taeifo ypwe zwdkn lyhhmpr cxmpyrgq sete eftxk wqiwicnr