In Excel: use =COUNTBLANK(range) — it counts empty cells, and also counts cells whose formula returns an empty string.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
range | required | The range to check for empty cells. |
Related functions
Select the result cell and type =COUNTBLANK(.
Select the range to check — a single range only, unlike COUNTA.
Press Enter.
Divide by ROWS(range) and format as a percentage for a completeness figure.
What this does
COUNTBLANK counts the empty cells in a range. Its defining quirk is the mirror image of COUNTA's: a formula returning "" is counted as blank here, even though the cell is not truly empty. That makes the two functions disagree about the same range, which is confusing until you know it — and useful once you do, because the difference between them isolates exactly the cells that only look empty. Its everyday role is completeness checking: how many required fields are still unfilled. The same idea underpins a lot of everyday Excel work, so the few minutes spent getting it right here pay back across every sheet you build afterwards. Treat it as a pattern, not a one-off, and it stops being something you look up and starts being something you reach for. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “excel count empty cells”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected blanks visible, and compare the result with the outcome you expected before you touch the real workbook. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. The point is a layout choice that keeps the sheet readable and sortable, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
A required-field column C2:C200: =COUNTBLANK(C2:C200) returns how many entries are still missing, and =COUNTBLANK(C2:C200)/ROWS(C2:C200) turns that into a completeness percentage. On a range of =IF(...,"",...) formulas, COUNTBLANK counts the empty-string results while COUNTA does not — the gap identifies them precisely. COUNTBLANK is the completeness check for any data-entry sheet, and its disagreement with COUNTA is a precise diagnostic rather than a bug. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.
In Google Sheets
The standard worksheet functions used by this example are listed in Google Sheets. Check the cell references, argument separators and input types in the target spreadsheet, then compare the worked result. This formula-availability check does not establish identical menus, keyboard shortcuts or workbook features, and it is not a product execution test. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, repeat the steps once in your own workbook — doing it yourself is what turns a copied answer into something you remember. For “excel count empty cells”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.
Common mistakes
- Expecting it to ignore formula-produced empty strings — it counts them as blank.
- Passing several ranges;
COUNTBLANKtakes exactly one. - Treating a cell containing a space as blank; it is not, and
COUNTBLANKwill not count it.
Frequently asked questions
Does COUNTBLANK count formulas that return ""?
Yes, it treats them as blank — the opposite of COUNTA, which counts them as filled.
How do I count blanks across several ranges?
Add several COUNTBLANK calls together; the function itself takes only one range.
Why do COUNTA and COUNTBLANK not add up to the range size?
Because cells holding formulas that return "" are counted by both. The overlap is exactly those cells.