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How to count cells that end with a value in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=COUNTIF(A2:A6,"*ing")✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Activity |
| Running |
| Swimming |
| Cycling |
| Reading |
| Yoga |
=COUNTIF(A2:A6,"*ing")→4
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Step by step
- 1Select the output cell.
- 2Type =COUNTIF( and select your range, e.g. A2:A6.
- 3Enter the criterion with an asterisk before the suffix: "*ing" counts anything ending with 'ing'.
- 4Close the parenthesis and press Enter.
- 5For a dynamic suffix from D1, use: =COUNTIF(A2:A6,"*"&D1).
Tips
- The match is case-insensitive — '*ing' and '*ING' yield the same count.
- Combine start and end wildcards to count cells containing a substring: "*ing*".
- For case-sensitive ends-with, use =SUMPRODUCT((RIGHT(A2:A6,3)="ing")*1) adjusting the length.
- Works with numeric suffixes too when values are stored as text.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
How do I count cells that end with a number?
Use =COUNTIF(A2:A6,"*0") to count cells ending in 0, for example.
Why does my formula count more than expected?
Check for trailing spaces. Use TRIM on your data or adjust the criterion to include a space, e.g. "*ing " is different from "*ing".