Excel Formulas Cheat Sheet

Master Excel with our comprehensive formulas reference guide. From basic math to advanced lookup functions, find syntax, examples, and expert tips for all essential Excel formulas.

Found 14 formulas matching "COUNT"

Excel Mastery Guide

Beginner

Start with basic calculations and data organization

Intermediate

Master lookup functions and data analysis

Advanced

Advanced functions and financial modeling

  • • INDEX-MATCH combinations
  • • Array formulas
  • • Financial functions (PV, FV, PMT)
  • • Statistical analysis

📊 What is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is the world's most popular spreadsheet application, developed by Microsoft and first released in 1985. Excel revolutionized data analysis, financial modeling, and business calculations by providing a powerful yet user-friendly interface for organizing, calculating, and analyzing data. With over 750 million users worldwide, Excel has become an essential tool for professionals across every industry, from accountants and analysts to scientists and entrepreneurs.

🚀 Core Capabilities

  • ✓ Data organization: Create structured tables, databases, and lists
  • ✓ Formula calculations: 400+ built-in functions for complex calculations
  • ✓ Data visualization: Charts, graphs, and conditional formatting
  • ✓ Data analysis: PivotTables, statistical analysis, and modeling
  • ✓ Automation: Macros and VBA programming for repetitive tasks
  • ✓ Collaboration: Real-time sharing and co-authoring features

💼 Who Uses Excel?

  • • Finance professionals: Financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting
  • • Data analysts: Statistical analysis, trend identification
  • • Business managers: Reporting, planning, performance tracking
  • • Researchers: Data collection, analysis, and visualization
  • • Students: Academic projects, research, and learning
  • • Small business owners: Inventory, sales tracking, bookkeeping

🏢 Industry Applications

Financial Services

Risk analysis, portfolio management, loan calculations, investment modeling, financial reporting

Healthcare & Research

Clinical data analysis, patient tracking, research statistics, medical billing, lab results

Education & Training

Grade tracking, student performance analysis, curriculum planning, educational research

⚡ Excel Formula Power

Formula Categories

  • • Math & Statistics: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, STDEV
  • • Logical: IF, AND, OR, NOT
  • • Text: CONCATENATE, LEFT, RIGHT, MID
  • • Date & Time: TODAY, NOW, DATEDIF
  • • Lookup: VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH

Formula Benefits

  • • Automation: Calculate complex results instantly
  • • Accuracy: Eliminate manual calculation errors
  • • Efficiency: Process thousands of data points
  • • Dynamic: Update automatically when data changes
  • • Scalability: Handle growing datasets seamlessly

🛠️ Excel Components

📋 Worksheets

Grid-based interface with rows, columns, and cells for data entry

🧮 Formulas

Mathematical expressions that calculate values automatically

📊 Charts

Visual representations of data in various graph formats

🔧 Functions

Pre-built formulas for specific calculations and operations

🎯 Excel vs. Alternatives

Excel Advantages

  • • Industry standard with universal compatibility
  • • Comprehensive feature set for all skill levels
  • • Extensive formula library (400+ functions)
  • • Advanced visualization and PivotTable capabilities
  • • VBA programming for custom solutions
  • • Seamless integration with Microsoft Office

Popular Alternatives

  • • Google Sheets: Cloud-based, free, real-time collaboration
  • • LibreOffice Calc: Open-source, free alternative
  • • Apple Numbers: Mac-native, design-focused
  • • Airtable: Database-spreadsheet hybrid
  • • Notion: All-in-one workspace with table features

🚀 Getting Started with Excel

1. Learn the Interface

Familiarize yourself with the ribbon, worksheets, cells, and formula bar • Practice basic navigation and data entry

2. Master Basic Formulas

Start with SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT • Learn cell references (A1, $A$1) • Practice IF statements and basic logic

3. Explore Advanced Features

Learn VLOOKUP, PivotTables, and data visualization • Practice with real datasets • Gradually build complexity

Excel Mastery Tip: The key to Excel expertise is practice and progressive learning. Start with basic formulas, build confidence, then gradually tackle more complex functions. This cheat sheet is your roadmap to Excel formula mastery! 📈

Excel Pro Tips

F4 Key: Toggle between absolute and relative references ($A$1, A$1, $A1, A1)

Ctrl + Shift + Enter: Enter array formulas (older Excel versions)

F9 Key: Calculate formulas manually when set to manual calculation mode

Ctrl + `: Toggle between formula view and result view

COUNT()

Math & Statistical

Counts cells containing numbers

Syntax:

=COUNT(value1, [value2], ...)

Examples:

=COUNT(A1:A10)

Count numeric cells in range

=COUNT(A:A)

Count numeric cells in column A

=COUNT(A1, B1, C1)

Count specific numeric cells

Note: Only counts cells with numeric values

COUNTA()

Math & Statistical

Counts non-empty cells

Syntax:

=COUNTA(value1, [value2], ...)

Examples:

=COUNTA(A1:A10)

Count non-empty cells in range

=COUNTA(A:A)

Count non-empty cells in column A

=COUNTA(A1:C1)

Count non-empty cells in row

Note: Counts cells with any value (text, numbers, errors)

COUNTIFS()

Math & Statistical

Counts cells that meet multiple criteria

Syntax:

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

Examples:

=COUNTIFS(A1:A10, "Apple", B1:B10, ">100")

Count where A='Apple' AND B>100

=COUNTIFS(A1:A10, ">=" & DATE(2024,1,1), A1:A10, "<" & DATE(2025,1,1))

Count dates in 2024

=COUNTIFS(B1:B10, "North", C1:C10, "Q1")

Count North region in Q1

Note: All criteria must be met for a cell to be counted

COUNTIF()

Math & Statistical

Counts cells that meet a criteria

Syntax:

=COUNTIF(range, criteria)

Examples:

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, ">100")

Count cells greater than 100

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, "Apple")

Count cells containing 'Apple'

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, A12)

Count cells equal to value in A12

Note: Supports wildcards: * for multiple characters, ? for single character

ISBLANK()

Information Functions

Tests if cell is empty

Syntax:

=ISBLANK(value)

Examples:

=ISBLANK(A1)

TRUE if A1 is empty

=IF(ISBLANK(A1), "Empty", A1)

Display 'Empty' if cell is blank

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, ISBLANK(A1:A10))

Count blank cells in range

Note: Returns TRUE only for truly empty cells

ISTEXT()

Information Functions

Tests if value is text

Syntax:

=ISTEXT(value)

Examples:

=ISTEXT(A1)

TRUE if A1 contains text

=IF(ISTEXT(A1), UPPER(A1), A1)

Convert to uppercase if text

=COUNTIF(A1:A10, ISTEXT(A1:A10))

Count text cells

Note: Returns FALSE for numbers, dates, and blank cells

LEN()

Text Functions

Returns the length of text

Syntax:

=LEN(text)

Examples:

=LEN(A1)

Count characters in cell A1

=LEN("Hello World")

Returns 11 (including space)

=LEN(TRIM(A1))

Length after removing extra spaces

Note: Counts all characters including spaces

OFFSET()

Lookup & Reference

Returns reference offset from starting reference

Syntax:

=OFFSET(reference, rows, cols, [height], [width])

Examples:

=OFFSET(A1, 2, 3)

Reference 2 rows down, 3 columns right from A1

=SUM(OFFSET(A1, 0, 0, 5, 1))

Sum 5 cells starting from A1

=OFFSET(A1, 0, 0, COUNTA(A:A), 1)

Dynamic range from A1 to last data

Note: Creates dynamic references. Often used with named ranges

NETWORKDAYS()

Date & Time

Returns number of workdays between two dates

Syntax:

=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])

Examples:

=NETWORKDAYS(A1, B1)

Workdays between two dates

=NETWORKDAYS("1/1/2024", "1/31/2024", C1:C5)

January workdays minus holidays

=NETWORKDAYS(TODAY(), TODAY()+30)

Workdays in next 30 days

Note: Excludes weekends and optional holidays from count

ROWS()

Lookup & Reference

Returns number of rows in reference

Syntax:

=ROWS(array)

Examples:

=ROWS(A1:A10)

Returns 10

=ROWS(A1:C5)

Returns 5

=ROWS(A:A)

Returns 1048576 (max rows)

Note: Counts total rows in the reference range

COLUMNS()

Lookup & Reference

Returns number of columns in reference

Syntax:

=COLUMNS(array)

Examples:

=COLUMNS(A1:E1)

Returns 5

=COLUMNS(A1:C10)

Returns 3

=COLUMNS(1:1)

Returns 16384 (max columns)

Note: Counts total columns in the reference range

CLEAN()

Text Functions

Removes non-printable characters from text

Syntax:

=CLEAN(text)

Examples:

=CLEAN(A1)

Remove non-printable chars from A1

=CLEAN(TRIM(A1))

Clean and trim text

=LEN(A1) - LEN(CLEAN(A1))

Count non-printable characters

Note: Removes ASCII characters 0-31 (except line feed)

NETWORKDAYS.INTL()

Date & Time

Returns workdays between dates with custom weekend

Syntax:

=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(start_date, end_date, [weekend], [holidays])

Examples:

=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(A1, B1, 1)

Standard weekend counting

=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(A1, B1, 7, C1:C5)

Fri/Sat weekend with holidays

=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(A1, B1, "0000011")

Custom weekend definition

Note: Same weekend options as WORKDAY.INTL

ISNUMBER()

Information Functions

Tests if value is a number

Syntax:

=ISNUMBER(value)

Examples:

=ISNUMBER(A1)

TRUE if A1 contains a number

=IF(ISNUMBER(A1), A1*2, "Not a number")

Multiply by 2 if number

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ISNUMBER(A1:A10)))

Count numeric cells

Note: Dates are considered numbers in Excel

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