COUNTBLANK function
COUNTBLANK counts the empty cells in a range: unassigned tasks, unanswered questions, missing dates. It also treats a formula that returns empty text ("") as blank. A cell with a space or a zero is not blank, so it isn't counted.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Statistical functions
- Returns
- The number of empty cells in the range.
- Google Sheets
- Also available in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=COUNTBLANK(range)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
range | Required | The range to check for empty cells. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | =COUNTBLANK(B2:B6) | 2 | Tasks nobody has picked up yet |
| F3 | =COUNTBLANK(C2:C6) | 2 | Tasks without a due date |
| F4 | =COUNTBLANK(B2:C6) | 4 | Gaps across both columns at once |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Task | Owner | Due date | Check | Result | |
| Draft budget | Ana | 6/3/2026 | No owner | 2 | |
| Book venue | 6/10/2026 | No due date | 2 | ||
| Order badges | Lee | Blanks in both | 4 | ||
| Send invites | |||||
| Print agenda | Kim | 6/12/2026 |
Practice COUNTBLANK
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Steps left per order
F2, count how many steps are still blank for order SO-501. Fill down to F6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| A cell that looks empty isn't counted | It contains a space or another invisible character. Clear it with Delete, or check it with =LEN(cell). |
| Zeros aren't counted as blank | A 0 is a value. Use COUNTIF(range,0) to count zeros separately. |
Tips
- Use =COUNTBLANK(B2:E2)=0 in a helper column to flag rows that are complete.
Questions
Does COUNTBLANK count cells with formulas that return ""?
Yes. A formula that returns empty text is counted as blank.
How do I count non-blank cells instead?
Use COUNTA, or subtract COUNTBLANK from the total number of cells with ROWS(range)*COLUMNS(range)-COUNTBLANK(range).
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.