How to use the Excel DCOUNT function

Summary

The Excel DCOUNT function counts matching records in a database using criteria and an optional field. When a field is provided DCOUNT will only count numeric values in the field. Use DCOUNTA to count numbers or text values in a given field.

Purpose

Count matching records in a database

Return value

Numeric count of matching records

Syntax

=DCOUNT (database, [field], criteria)

Arguments

database - Database range including headers.
field - [optional] Field name or index to count.
criteria - Criteria range including headers.

Usage notes

The Excel DCOUNT function counts matching records in a database using a specified field and criteria. The database argument is a range of cells that includes field headers, field is the name or index of the field to count, and criteria is a range of cells with headers matching those in database.

Using the example above, you can count records where the color is "red" and price is > 10 with these formulas:

=DCOUNT(B7:E14,"Total",B4:E5) // field by name
=DCOUNT(B7:E14,4,B4:E5) // field by index
=DCOUNT(B7:E14,,B4:E5) // field omitted

Caution: if field is provide to the DCOUNT function, it is only counted when non-blank and numeric. If field contains a text value, or if the field is blank, it will not be counted, even when criteria match.

Criteria options

The criteria can include a variety of expressions. The table below shows some examples:

Criteria	Behavior
Red	Match "red" or "RED"
Re*	Begins with "re"
10	Equal to 10
>10	Greater than 10
<>	Not blank
<>100	Not 100
>12/19/2017	Greater than Dec 19, 2017

The criteria range for DCOUNT can include more than one row below the headers. When criteria includes more than one row, each row is joined with OR logic, and the expressions in a given criteria row are joined with AND logic.

Notes:

DCOUNT will only count numeric values in the given field when criteria match. To count either numbers or text, use DCOUNTA.
DCOUNT supports wildcards in criteria, the support is not as good as in more modern functions like COUNTIFS.
Criteria can include more than one row (as explained above),
The field argument can be supplied as a name in double quotes ("") or as a number representing field index.
The database and criteria ranges must include matching headers.

Related functions

Excel DCOUNTA Function

The Excel DCOUNTA function counts matching records in a database using criteria and an optional field. When a field is provided DCOUNTA will only count numeric records when the field value is not blank. Use...

Excel DMAX Function

The Excel DMAX function returns the maximum value in a field, from a set of records that match criteria. Use the DMIN function to get the minimum value.

Excel DMIN Function

The Excel DMIN function returns the minimum value in a field, from a set of records that match criteria. Use the MAX function to get the maximum value.

Excel DSUM Function

The Excel DSUM function returns the sum of values from a set of records that match criteria. The values to sum are extracted from a given field in the database.

Excel DPRODUCT Function

The Excel DPRODUCT function returns the product of values from a set of records that match criteria. The values to multiply are extracted from a given field in the database, specified as an argument.

Excel Formula Training

Formulas are the key to getting things done in Excel. In this accelerated training, you'll learn how to use formulas to manipulate text, work with dates and times, lookup values with VLOOKUP and INDEX & MATCH, count and sum with criteria, dynamically rank values, and create dynamic ranges. You'll also learn how to troubleshoot, trace errors, and fix problems. Instant access. See details here.