In Excel: use =COUNTIF(range, criteria) — it counts how many cells in range meet a single condition you specify.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
range | required | The cells to examine, such as a column of statuses or values. |
criteria | required | The condition a cell must meet to be counted, like "Done", ">=50" or "A*". |
Related functions
Type =COUNTIF( and select the column or range to examine as range, for example C2:C200.
Type a comma, then the criteria — text in quotes like "Shipped", a number, or a quoted comparison like ">=60".
Close the bracket and press Enter to see the count.
For partial-text matches, use wildcards such as "*urgent*" to count cells containing the word.
To flag duplicates, compare a cell to its column, =COUNTIF(A:A, A2), and fill down.
What this does
COUNTIF tallies cells that satisfy one condition. It scans range and counts every cell matching the criteria, which can be exact text, a number, a comparison like ">=50", or a wildcard pattern. It answers questions like how many orders are "Shipped", how many scores are at least 60, or — by counting a value against its own column — how many times an entry is duplicated. Keep the inputs visible and clearly labelled and the whole thing stays auditable — anyone who opens the file later, including you, can see at a glance exactly what feeds the result and change one assumption without hunting through the formula. Treat “excel countif multiple conditions” as a small repeatable workflow rather than a one-off click you hope to remember next time. Use a small test block before the live file, so any surprise in the affected cells shows up while it is still harmless. 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. That turns a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor into a method you can reuse, explain, and defend when the workbook leaves your screen.
A worked example
Order statuses are in C2:C200. To count how many are shipped: =COUNTIF(C2:C200, "Shipped"), returning say 143. To count scores of 60 or higher in B2:B200: =COUNTIF(B2:B200, ">=60"). To find duplicates of the value in A2, count it against the whole column: =COUNTIF(A:A, A2) — a result above 1 means the value repeats. COUNTIF is the quickest way to answer "how many" against one condition — open tasks, passing grades, repeated entries — 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. Nothing on this page is behind a login or a download: the exact answer is at the top, and the detail below it is there for when you need it. That is the whole promise here — the answer first, and just enough context to make it stick. For “excel countif multiple conditions”, 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
- Forgetting the quotes around a comparison — ">=60" must be a quoted string, not >=60 on its own.
- Expecting
COUNTIFto handle two conditions; for multiple criteria useCOUNTIFSinstead. - Counting blanks unexpectedly — "" and truly empty cells behave differently, so use "<>"&"" for non-blanks or
COUNTBLANKfor blanks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count cells greater than a number?
Put the operator and value in quotes as the criteria: =COUNTIF(B2:B100, ">50"). The same works for ">=", "<", "<=" and "<>" for not-equal.
How do I count duplicate values with COUNTIF?
Compare each value to the whole column: =COUNTIF(A:A, A2) returns how many times A2 appears. Filling it down and looking for results above 1 highlights every duplicate.
Can COUNTIF count partial text?
Yes, with wildcards: "*report*" counts cells containing "report" anywhere, "A*" counts cells starting with A, and "?at" counts three-letter cells ending in "at".