In Excel: use =COUNTIFS(criteria_range1, criteria1, criteria_range2, criteria2) — it counts the rows that satisfy every condition you list, combining the criteria with AND logic.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
criteria_range1 | required | The first column tested against criteria1, such as a column of regions. |
criteria1 | required | The condition criteria_range1 must meet, like "West", ">=50" or "A*". |
criteria_range2, criteria2 | optional | Optional further range/criterion pairs; a row is counted only when ALL pairs match (AND logic). |
Related functions
Type =COUNTIFS( and select the first column to test as criteria_range1, for example the region column A2:A100.
Type a comma, then its criterion in quotes — text like "West" or a comparison like ">=50".
Type a comma and add the next column-and-criterion pair, such as the status column C2:C100 and "Open".
Repeat for any further conditions, then close the bracket and press Enter.
Lock the ranges with $ (A$2:A$100) if you will copy the formula across a summary table.
What this does
COUNTIFS counts rows that meet several conditions at once. You give it pairs of a column and the condition that column must meet, and it counts a row only when all of the pairs are true. Unlike SUMIFS there is no separate count range — COUNTIFS simply counts the matching rows themselves, so every argument is a criteria_range followed by its criterion. Each criterion can be exact text, a number, a comparison like ">=50", or a wildcard pattern. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “countifs function in excel with multiple criteria”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected formula 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 calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
Regions are in A2:A100 and statuses in C2:C100. To count rows that are both West AND Open: =COUNTIFS(A2:A100, "West", C2:C100, "Open"). It checks each row and tallies it only when the region equals "West" and the status equals "Open", returning say 17. Add another pair to narrow further, for example a priority column: =COUNTIFS(A2:A100, "West", C2:C100, "Open", D2:D100, "High"). COUNTIFS is the go-to for "how many" across two or more conditions — open tickets in a region, high-priority tasks per owner, orders by status and month — without filtering or a pivot table. 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 “countifs function in excel with multiple criteria”, 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 a separate count range like
SUMIFShas —COUNTIFScounts the matching rows themselves, so do not add a values column to total. - Giving the criteria ranges different heights, which throws a
#VALUE!error because the rows no longer line up. - Expecting
ORlogic —COUNTIFScounts a row only when every pair matches; for "either" counts, add twoCOUNTIFStogether and subtract the overlap.
Frequently asked questions
How is COUNTIFS different from COUNTIF?
COUNTIF tests one condition; COUNTIFS tests several at once and counts only rows that meet all of them. For a single criterion either works, but COUNTIFS lets you stack range-and-criterion pairs.
Does COUNTIFS use AND or OR logic?
AND — a row is counted only when it satisfies every criteria pair. To count rows meeting one OR another condition, add two COUNTIFS formulas and subtract any rows counted twice.
Why is there no count range in COUNTIFS?
COUNTIFS counts the rows that match rather than summing a separate column, so unlike SUMIFS it has no sum_range. Every argument is a criteria_range paired with its criterion.
Other ways people ask this
People reach this page typing “countif function in excel with multiple criteria” and “advanced countifs function in excel”, among other phrasings; whichever wording you used, the fix above is the one you want.
Why do people search for this in so many different ways?
Because the same task has many names. “countif function in excel with multiple criteria”, “advanced countifs function in excel” all point at the one operation explained on this page, which is why they all lead here.