Syntax
COUNTBLANK(range)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| range | Parameter of the COUNTBLANK function. |
Examples
Missing email addresses
Formula
=COUNTBLANK(D2:D500)
Returns the number of rows in the email column that are empty. If 23 cells are blank, returns 23.
Incomplete order forms
Formula
=COUNTBLANK(A2:F2)
Checks a single row across 5 columns. Returns the count of fields left unfilled in that order.
Percentage complete
Formula
=1 - COUNTBLANK(B2:B100)/COUNTA(B2:B100)
Combines COUNTBLANK with COUNTA to calculate the completion rate of a column.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Occurs if the argument is not a valid cell range. COUNTBLANK requires a range reference, not individual values.
Tips
Cells with formulas returning empty strings
A cell containing ="" (an empty string from a formula) is counted as blank by COUNTBLANK, even though the cell technically contains a formula.
Use with conditional formatting
Pair COUNTBLANK with conditional formatting to highlight rows where required fields are still empty, making incomplete records easy to spot.
Inverse: count filled cells
To count non-blank cells instead, use COUNTA. The relationship is: COUNTA(range) + COUNTBLANK(range) = total cells in range.
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