3 Ways To Use Countif Not Equal In Excel

Excel's COUNTIF function is a powerful tool for counting cells that meet specific criteria. One of the most useful applications of COUNTIF is counting cells that do not equal a specific value. In this article, we will explore three ways to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value.

Excel is a widely used spreadsheet software that allows users to store, organize, and analyze data. With its numerous functions and formulas, Excel makes it easy to perform various tasks, from simple calculations to complex data analysis. The COUNTIF function is one of the most commonly used functions in Excel, and it is particularly useful for counting cells that meet specific criteria.

Counting cells that do not equal a specific value is a common task in Excel, and there are several ways to do it using the COUNTIF function. In this article, we will explore three ways to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value.

Method 1: Using the Not Equal To Operator (<>)

The most straightforward way to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value is by using the not equal to operator (<>) in the criteria argument. The syntax for this method is:

COUNTIF(range, "<>" & criteria)

Where range is the range of cells that you want to count, and criteria is the value that you want to exclude.

For example, suppose you have a list of numbers in column A, and you want to count the cells that do not equal 5. You can use the following formula:

=COUNTIF(A:A, "<>" & 5)

This formula will count the cells in column A that do not equal 5.

Example

Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

If you apply the formula =COUNTIF(A:A, "<>" & 5) to the above data, the result will be 9, because there are 9 cells that do not equal 5.

Method 2: Using the NOT Function

Another way to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value is by using the NOT function. The NOT function returns TRUE if the argument is FALSE, and vice versa. The syntax for this method is:

COUNTIF(range, NOT(criteria))

Where range is the range of cells that you want to count, and criteria is the value that you want to exclude.

For example, suppose you have a list of numbers in column A, and you want to count the cells that do not equal 5. You can use the following formula:

=COUNTIF(A:A, NOT(5))

This formula will count the cells in column A that do not equal 5.

Example

Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

If you apply the formula =COUNTIF(A:A, NOT(5)) to the above data, the result will be 9, because there are 9 cells that do not equal 5.

Method 3: Using the IF Function

The third way to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value is by using the IF function. The IF function returns one value if the condition is TRUE, and another value if the condition is FALSE. The syntax for this method is:

COUNTIF(range, IF(range=criteria, "", range))

Where range is the range of cells that you want to count, and criteria is the value that you want to exclude.

For example, suppose you have a list of numbers in column A, and you want to count the cells that do not equal 5. You can use the following formula:

=COUNTIF(A:A, IF(A:A=5, "", A:A))

This formula will count the cells in column A that do not equal 5.

Example

Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

If you apply the formula =COUNTIF(A:A, IF(A:A=5, "", A:A)) to the above data, the result will be 9, because there are 9 cells that do not equal 5.

Countif Not Equal Image Gallery

In conclusion, there are three ways to use COUNTIF to count cells that do not equal a specific value in Excel. You can use the not equal to operator (<>) in the criteria argument, the NOT function, or the IF function. Each method has its own syntax and application, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Remember to use the correct syntax and criteria to get the desired result.

We hope this article has been informative and helpful. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please leave a comment below.