Formulas - 2026-05-12

COUNTIFS in Excel: Practical Examples

Learn COUNTIFS in Excel with examples for counting by status, dates, blanks, text criteria, multiple conditions, and report summaries.

What COUNTIFS Does

  • COUNTIFS counts rows that meet one or more conditions. It is ideal for dashboards, task trackers, pipeline reports, and data quality checks. Basic syntax: \\\ =COUNTIFS(criteria_range1, criteria1, criteria_range2, criteria2) \\\

Count by Status

  • \\\ =COUNTIFS(C:C,"Open") \\\ This counts rows where column C equals Open.

Count by Status and Owner

  • \\\ =COUNTIFS(C:C,"Open",D:D,"Alex") \\\ This counts open records assigned to Alex.

Count Dates in a Range

  • \\\ =COUNTIFS(A:A,">="&F1,A:A,"<="&G1) \\\ Use this for month, quarter, or custom reporting periods.

Count Non-Blanks and Blanks

  • \\\ =COUNTIFS(A:A,"<>") =COUNTIFS(A:A,"") \\\ These are useful for completeness checks.

Related Guides

  • COUNTIFS function COUNTIF vs COUNTIFS Data Validation in Excel Excel Dashboard Guide

COUNTIFS Dashboard Patterns

  • COUNTIFS is ideal for KPI cards because it turns raw rows into counts. KPI Formula pattern Open tasks =COUNTIFS(Status,"Open") Open tasks by owner =COUNTIFS(Status,"Open",Owner,"Alex") Due this month =COUNTIFS(DueDate,">="&StartDate,DueDate,"<="&EndDate) Missing owner =COUNTIFS(Owner,"")

Expert Use Case

  • For operational dashboards, pair COUNTIFS with SUMIFS. COUNTIFS tells you volume; SUMIFS tells you value. Together they answer questions like "How many open invoices exist?" and "What is their total amount?"

Data Quality Checks

  • Use COUNTIFS to monitor spreadsheet quality: \\\ =COUNTIFS(CustomerID,"") =COUNTIFS(Status,"<>Closed",DueDate,"<"&TODAY()) \\\ These formulas flag missing IDs and overdue open records.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between COUNTIF and COUNTIFS? COUNTIF counts with one condition. COUNTIFS counts with multiple conditions.
  • Can COUNTIFS count dates? Yes. Use criteria such as >=start_date and <=end_date with date cells or referenced date inputs.
  • Can COUNTIFS count blank cells? Yes. Use an empty string as the criteria, such as =COUNTIFS(A:A,"").
  • Can COUNTIFS count values not equal to something? Yes. Use the <> operator in quotes, such as =COUNTIFS(Status,"<>Closed").