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How to use COUNTIF in Google Sheets

Learn how to use the COUNTIF function in Google Sheets to count cells matching a condition, with text, number, and date examples.

Quick answer

To use COUNTIF in Google Sheets, click an empty cell, type =COUNTIF(range, criterion), and press Enter. The range is the cells to check, like A2:A100, and the criterion is the condition, like "Paid" or ">100". Google Sheets counts every matching cell instantly and updates the count automatically whenever your data changes.

Steps at a glance

  1. Click an empty cell to hold your result
  2. Type =COUNTIF( to start the formula
  3. Select or type the range of cells to check
  4. Add a comma, then enter your criterion in quotes
  5. Close the parenthesis and press Enter
  6. Check the returned count matches your expectations
  7. Adjust the criterion or range if needed

Summary

COUNTIF is a built-in Google Sheets function that counts how many cells in a range meet a single condition, such as a specific text value, a number above a threshold, or a date range. It's one of the fastest ways to summarize data without building a full pivot table or filter.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Select the cell for your result

    Click on an empty cell where you want the count to appear. This cell will display the final number once your formula is entered, so pick a spot near your data that's easy to reference later.

  2. Step 2

    Start the COUNTIF formula

    Type =COUNTIF( into the selected cell. Google Sheets will show a small syntax hint below the cell confirming the function expects a range and a criterion.

  3. Step 3

    Define the range to check

    Click and drag to highlight the cells you want COUNTIF to scan, such as A2:A100, or type the range manually. This range should cover only the column or rows containing the values you're testing.

  4. Step 4

    Enter your criterion

    Add a comma after the range, then type the condition in quotes, like "Paid", ">90", or "<=50". COUNTIF isn't case-sensitive, so "paid" and "Paid" are treated the same way.

  5. Step 5

    Close the formula and press Enter

    Add a closing parenthesis so the formula reads =COUNTIF(A2:A100,"Paid") and press Enter. Google Sheets calculates the result immediately and displays the matching count in the cell.

  6. Step 6

    Verify and adjust as needed

    Compare the returned number against a quick manual scan of a few rows to confirm accuracy. If you need to count based on more than one condition, switch to COUNTIFS instead, or explore /guides/google-sheets/use-conditional-formatting to visually flag matching cells alongside the count.

Why this matters

You're staring at hundreds of rows of survey responses, orders, or attendance records and need a quick number, like how many customers marked "Paid" or how many scores beat 90. Instead of scrolling and tallying by hand, COUNTIF gives you an instant, self-updating count in one cell.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can COUNTIF count based on more than one condition?

    No, COUNTIF only supports a single condition. For multiple conditions, use the COUNTIFS function, which accepts additional range and criterion pairs.

  • Does COUNTIF work with dates?

    Yes. You can use comparison operators like ">1/1/2026" as the criterion to count cells with dates after a specific point, as long as the range contains valid date values.

  • Is COUNTIF case-sensitive?

    No. COUNTIF treats text matches without regard to letter case, so "paid", "Paid", and "PAID" all count as the same value.

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