The COUNTBLANK function counts empty or blank cells in a range.

The picture above demonstrates the COUNTBLANK function entered in cell F3. The evaluated range is C3:C10, two of the cells contains formulas, three cells seem to be empty but only one is in fact empty.

Cell C4 has a formula that returns a blank, note that the COUNTBLANK function considers this cell empty. Cell C7 has a space character and is therefore counted. Only cell C6 is really empty.

Use the TRIM function to remove space characters.

1. COUNTBLANK Function Syntax

COUNTBLANK(value1, [value2], ...)

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2. COUNTBLANK Function Arguments

The COUNTBLANK function counts errors as not empty.

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3. COUNTBLANK Function example

The formula in cell F3 counts two empty cells in cell range C3:C10. Note, there is also one error value meaning the COUNTBLANK function works with error values as well.

Formula in cell F3:

Explaining formula

COUNTBLANK(C3:C10)

becomes

COUNTBLANK({"A";"";44;0;" ";TRUE;#DIV/0!;"Text"})

and returns 2.

Cell C7 is not empty, it contains a space character. Cell C4 contains a formula, however, the output is nothing. The COUNTBLANK function counts cell C4 as empty.

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4. Count blanks - arrays and other functions

This example shows that you can't use hardcoded arrays in the COUNTBLANK function, a dialog box appears telling you there is a problem with the formula.

Formula in cell C3:

You can't use other functions in the COUNTBLANK function, unexpected things may happen.

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5. Count blanks based on a condition

Formula in cell C3:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Check values against a condition

The equal sign lets you compare value to value, you can also compare value to multiple values, and the result is an array.

The equal sign is a logical operator and the result is a boolean value TRUE or FALSE.

B3:B11=E3

becomes

{"Pen"; "Pencil"; "Clip"; "Pen"; "Clip"; "Pencil"; "Pen"; "Clip"; "Clip"}="Clip"

and returns

{FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE}.

Step 2 - Filter values based on a condition

The FILTER function extracts values/rows based on a condition or criteria.

Function syntax: FILTER(array, include, [if_empty])

FILTER(C3:C11,B3:B11=E3)

becomes

FILTER(C3:C11,{FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE})

becomes

FILTER({"";7;45;31;"";37;98;"";6}, {FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; FALSE; TRUE; TRUE})

and returns

{45; ""; ""; 6}.

Step 3 - Find blank values

FILTER(C3:C11,B3:B11=E3)=""

becomes

{45; ""; ""; 6}=""

and returns

{FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE}.

Step 5 - Add boolean values

The SUM function allows you to add numerical values, the function returns the sum in the cell it is entered in. The SUM function is cleverly designed to ignore text and boolean values, adding only numbers.

Function syntax: SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

SUM((FILTER(C3:C11,B3:B11=E3)="")*1)

becomes

SUM({FALSE; TRUE; TRUE; FALSE})

and returns 2.

FALSE is 0 (zero) and TRUE is 1.

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6. Count blanks based on a list

Formula in cell C3:

Explaining formula

Step 1 -

COUNTIF(E3:E4,B3:B11)

Step 2 -

FILTER(C3:C11,COUNTIF(E3:E4,B3:B11))

Step 3 -

FILTER(C3:C11,COUNTIF(E3:E4,B3:B11))=""

Step 4 -

(FILTER(C3:C11,COUNTIF(E3:E4,B3:B11))="")*1

Step 5 -

SUM((FILTER(C3:C11,COUNTIF(E3:E4,B3:B11))="")*1)

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7. Count blanks in a delimited text string

Formula in cell C3:

Explaining formula

Step 1 -

TEXTSPLIT(C3,";")

Step 2 -

TEXTSPLIT(C3,";")=""

Step 3 -

(TEXTSPLIT(C3,";")="")*1

Step 4 -

SUM((TEXTSPLIT(C3,";")="")*1)

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8. Count blanks in multiple cell ranges

Formula in cell B12:

Explaining formula

Step 1 - Join arrays

VSTACK(B3:B9,D3:D9,F3:F9)

Step 2 - Check if empty

VSTACK(B3:B9,D3:D9,F3:F9)=""

Step 3 - Convert boolean values to numbers

(VSTACK(B3:B9,D3:D9,F3:F9)="")*1

Step 4 - Calculate a total

SUM((VSTACK(B3:B9,D3:D9,F3:F9)="")*1)

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'COUNTBLANK' function examples

The following article has a formula that contains the COUNTBLANK function.

How to count blank cells
The image above shows the COUNTBLANK function counting empty cells in cell range B3:B14. Note that the COUNTBLANK function ignores […]

Functions in 'Statistical' category

The COUNTBLANK function function is one of many functions in the 'Statistical' category.

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