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Use COUNTIFS to count cells that match multiple criteria

The COUNTIFS function in Excel counts the number of cells in a range that match a set of multiple criteria. COUNTIFS extends the COUNTIF function which only allows one criteria. It is similar to SUMIFS, which will find the sum of all cells that match a set of multiple criteria.

COUNTIFS function syntax

The COUNTIFS function has the following syntax:

=COUNTIFS(criteria_range1,criteria1, criteria_range2,criteria2,....)

  • criteria_range1 is the first range of cells
  • criteria1 is the criteria should be matched against criteria_range1
  • Similarly, criteria_range2 is the second range of cells that should be matched against criteria2.

There are several things you need to remember when using the COUNTIFS function in a formula:

  • You can use up to XX criteria_range and criteria pairs in a single COUNTIFS function.
  • Whether you have two or twenty criteria ranges, each one MUST be the same shape.

It's important to note that the COUNTIFS function takes all of the criteria_range/criteria pairs and counts only those instances where all of the pairs are true. This is best demonstrated with an example.

Scenario One - COUNTIFS with one criterion

Let's say we have a list of recent computer hardware purchases as shown here:

Excel COUNTIFS function worked example - sample data

Suppose we want to count how many times Desktop appears in the Product column. This can be done with a COUNTIF function - we don't need to use COUNTIFS at this point. Here's the formula to do this:

=COUNTIF(B2:B13,"Desktop")

Here's how that might look in our spreadsheet:

Excel COUNTIFS function with only one criteria

Notice that although we don't need to use COUNTIFS in this scenario, COUNTIFS will return the same result.

Also note that it is possible to use any rectangular criteria range. Our example above uses a criteria range that is 1 column wide and 12 rows deep (B2:B13).

It would also work if we used a criteria range that was, say, 2 columns wide and 12 rows deep, or even 12 columns wide and 1 row deep. COUNTIFS will simply count all of the cells in the range you specify that contain the criteria you specify.

Scenario 2 - COUNTIFS with two criteria in different criteria ranges

Once you understand how to use COUNTIFS with one critera_range and criteria, it becomes easy to extend it to two or more criteria_range/criteria combinations.

For example, let's count the number of times the combination of Desktop and Monitor appear in our spreadsheet:

=COUNTIFS(B2:B13,"Desktop",C2:C13,"Monitor")

Excel COUNTIFS formula example with two criteria and two ranges

As you can see, this formula has returned the correct number of rows where both criteria are matched in their respective columns.

It's worth repeating one of the rules of COUNTIFS here - the two criteria ranges must be the same shape and size or your formula won't work, and will return a #VALUE error. Here's an example where the second criteria range is smaller than the first:

=COUNTIFS(B2:B13,"Desktop",C2:C12,"Monitor")

Scenario 3 - COUNTIFS with two criteria in the same criteria range

Another common scenario is to use the same criteria with more than one criteria_range. For example, suppose we want to count the number of times either Desktop or Server appear in the Product column. You might try this formula using COUNTIFS:

=COUNTIFS(B2:B13,"Desktop",B2:B13,"Server")

Unfortunately, this formula will return a value of 0, as shown here:

Excel COUNTIFS two criteria in one column

This is a common mistake that even experienced Excel users make when using COUNTIFS (and its counterpart, SUMIFS which you can learn about here).

The problem is that COUNTIFS looks in our criteria_range, B2:B13 and tries to count cells that contain both Desktop and Server. Remember that we wanted to count cells that contain either Desktop or Server. Of course, there are no cells in our range that contain both Desktop and Server, so the result is 0.

Ironically, the best way to find the answer in this scenario is so simple that it is often overlooked - just use two COUNTIF functions in your formula, rather than once COUNTIFS function, like this:

=COUNTIFS(B2:B13,"Desktop")+COUNTIF(B2:B13,"Server")

This yields the correct result, as shown here:

Excel COUNTIFS count rows matching either of two criteria in the same column

In other words, we simply count all the rows that contain Desktop, and add those to the tally of rows that contain Server.

Summary

The COUNTIFS function allows you to count the number of times

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Comments on this lesson

this formula stuff

hey man im working on something similar but im a bit stuck. was wondering if you can help me because this is similar.

here is my dilemma:
im trying to do the criteria match with the 2 criterias, however for the second criteria i want the home score to be great than the vis. score. (with the first being the team name at home but ive got that sorted it just keeps coming up the value thing when i try complete the rest, here is what i have so far -

=COUNTIFS(Table2[HOME TEAM],"stuttgart",Table2,Table2[HOME SCORE]>Table2[VIS. SCORE])

break that down :
=COUNTIFS
first criteria (Table2[HOME TEAM],"stuttgart", this is fine so far... but when i add the next bit.
Table2,Table2[HOME SCORE]>Table2[VIS. SCORE])

what is it exactly im doing wrong with it lol.

Not entering figures that don't meet criteria in sumcountifs

SUM(COUNTIFS($H51:$H$771,"Expressway",$J51:$J$771,"OS"))
H J
101 Expressway 100 OS 720 84
106 Expressway 100 OS 719 83
121 Expressway 100 ES 718 82
112 Expressway 100 ES 717 82
101 Expressway 100 OS 716 82

Good day, I have used the above formula to get an accurate reply. But the problem is that where the condition are not met should have been blank like the below since they don't meet the criteria

H J
101 Expressway 100 OS 720 84
106 Expressway 100 OS 719 83
121 Expressway 100 ES 718
112 Expressway 100 ES 717
101 Expressway 100 OS 716 82

How can I solve this please?
Thanks
Jake

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