How to count the occurrences of a number or text in a range in Excel for Mac (214153)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q214153

SUMMARY

This article explains how you can use worksheet functions in Microsoft Excel for Mac to count the number of occurrences of a specific number or text string in a range of cells on a worksheet. The "More Information" section of this article contains sample formulas that you can use to do this.

MORE INFORMATION

In the cell that you want the result to appear in, enter the appropriate formula from the following examples.

How to Count the Occurrences of a Number

Use this formula

=SUM(IF(range=number,1,0))

where range is the range that you want to search, and number is the number that you want to count.

NOTE: This formula must be entered as an array formula. To enter an array formula, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

How to Count the Occurrences of a Text String

Method 1

Use this formula

=SUM(IF(range="text",1,0))

where range is the range that you want to search, and text is the text that you want to find (the text must be enclosed in quotation marks).

NOTE: The above formula must be entered as an array formula. To enter an array formula, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

Method 2

Use the COUNTIF() function to count the occurrences of a text string. For example, use the formula

=COUNTIF(range,"text")

where range is the range of cells that you are evaluating, and text is the text string that you want to count instances of (note that text must be enclosed in quotation marks).

NOTE: This formula must be entered as an array formula. To enter an array formula, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

Wildcard characters can be used within the COUNTIF function.

The asterisk character (*) represents more than one character. For example, to count all the cells in the range a1:a10 that contain an "x," you can use the following formula:

=COUNTIF(a1:a10,"*x*")

The question mark character (?) can also be used to represent one wildcard character -- for example, to count all cells in the range whose second character is the letter, such as "ax" or "bx."

=COUNTIF(a1:a10,"?x*")

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/18/2005
Keywords:kbhowto KB214153
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.