COUNTA

Description

Use this function to count the number of non-blank values in a set of values. Supported in Chains. Can be used with CHILDREFS.

COUNTA(range_1,[…,range_254)

This function has the following arguments:

Name	Required	Valid input
`range`	Yes	The range for which you want to count the number of cells that are not blank.
`range_254`	No	Any additional ranges you want included in the count.

Use case Formula Explanation and Result

Count the number of cells in a range that have content.

=COUNTA(A2:B6)

This formula works in the following manner:

COUNTA(: This is the function itself, which counts non-empty cells.
A2:B6: This is the range of cells to evaluate. The function counts how many cells within this range contain any type of information (numbers, text, empty text (""), logical values, and errors), excluding truly empty cells.

For this data set this formula returns 7.

Count the number of cells in multiple ranges that have content.

=COUNTA(A2:A3,B2:B4)

This formula works in the following manner:

COUNTA(: This is the function itself.
A2:A3: The first range of cells to evaluate.
B2:B4: The second range of cells to evaluate.
The function counts the total number of non-empty cells across all specified ranges.

For this data set this formula returns 3.

Count the number of non-blank cells in a dynamic range where the number of rows may change.

=COUNTA(B2:INDEX(B:B, MATCH(9.9E+307, B:B)))

This formula works in the following manner:

B:B: Refers to the entire column B.
MATCH(9.9E+307, B:B): Finds the row number of the last cell in column B that contains a number. (9.9E+307 is used as an approximation for the largest possible number).
INDEX(B:B, MATCH(...)): Creates a reference to the last numeric cell found in column B.
COUNTA(B2:INDEX(...)): Counts the number of non-empty cells starting from B2 down to the last cell containing a number in column B.

For this data set this formula returns 3.

COUNTA supports up to 255 references.
COUNTA counts cells containing any type of information, including error values, empty text (""), and invisible characters. For example, if the range contains a formula that returns an empty string, the COUNTA function counts that value.
COUNTA does not count empty cells.

If you do not need to count logical values, text, or error values (in other words, if you want to count only cells that contain numbers), use the COUNT function.
If you want to count only cells that meet certain criteria, use the COUNTIF or COUNTIFS functions.
To count empty cells, use the COUNTBLANK function.