How to count cells greater than a number with COUNTIF

One figure that answers how many rows cleared a threshold, with the test written the way COUNTIF expects it.

The formula

=COUNTIF(B:B,">3000") in column D

What each part does

B:B
The column being counted.
">3000"
The test, written inside quotes. Above three thousand, not including it.

How it works, and what to watch for

The condition goes inside quotes, including the greater-than sign. Written without them Excel reads it as a cell reference and returns an error.

Greater than does not include the number itself. Use ">=3000" when the threshold should count.

To point at a cell rather than a typed figure, join them: ">"&D1. The ampersand is needed for the same reason it is needed in SUMIFS with dates.

Questions

How do I count between two numbers?

COUNTIFS takes both: COUNTIFS(B:B,">3000",B:B,"<5000").

Why is it counting nothing?

Usually the figures are text rather than numbers. A number that sits on the left of its cell by default is text; multiplying the column by 1 converts it.

Can I count by text instead?

Yes, COUNTIF(A:A,"North"). Wildcards work too: "North*" matches anything starting with North.

The example sheet

Rep Sales
Emma 4200
Thomas 2800
Lena 3600
Martin 1500

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When this formula goes wrong

More on COUNTIF, and every walkthrough that uses it.

Formula Steps Watch how Excel formulas are built. Download the sheet.

Settings: separator, Excel version

Argument separator

Set by your computer's language, not by the file. A frequent cause of a correct-looking formula being rejected.

Excel version

XLOOKUP, IFS, TEXTBEFORE and TEXTJOIN need Microsoft 365 or 2021; older versions return #NAME? instead. Choosing the older one switches every walkthrough to a formula that works there.