What COUNTBLANK does
COUNTBLANK measures how many cells in a range are empty. It is useful for checking missing data, incomplete forms, or fields that still need input.
Practical examples
Count missing values in one column
=COUNTBLANK(A2:A10)
This quickly shows how many rows in the input column still need data.
Count blanks in a required section
=COUNTBLANK(B2:D10)
This is useful for auditing a block of required fields in a checklist or intake form.
Common mistakes and notes
Empty-looking formulas may count as blank
Cells containing formulas that return "" can behave like blanks for COUNTBLANK, which may surprise you in report logic.
Spaces make a cell nonblank
A cell that contains a space character is not truly blank. Use TRIM or LEN if imported data contains invisible characters.
COUNTBLANK works on ranges, not arbitrary lists
Unlike COUNT or COUNTA, COUNTBLANK is usually used on a contiguous range. Keep the target range explicit so the result is easy to verify.