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MS Excel: DCount Function


In Excel, the DCount function returns the number of cells in a column or database that contains numbers and meets a given criteria.

The syntax for the DCount function is:

DCount( range, field, criteria )

range is the range of cells that you want to apply the criteria against.

field is the column to count the values. You can either specify the numerical position of the column in the list or the column label in double quotation marks.

criteria is the range of cells that contains your criteria.

Applies To:

  • Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

For Example:

Let's take a look at an example:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above:

=DCount(A4:D8, "Unit Cost", A1:B2) would return 2
=DCount(A4:D8, 3, A1:B2) would return 2
=DCount(A4:D8, "Quantity", A1:A2) would return 3
=DCount(A4:D8, 2, A1:A2) would return 3

Using Named Ranges

You can also use a named range in the DCount function. For example, we've created a named range called orders that refers to Sheet1!$A$4:$D$8.


Then we've entered the following data in Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above:

=DCount(orders, "Total Cost", A1:B2) would return 2
=DCount(orders, 4, A1:B2) would return 2

To view named ranges: Under the Insert menu, select Name > Define.