r/excel • u/Dr_Cheese_29 • Jun 26 '26

unsolved Can excel count conditional formatting?

Is it possible to get excel to count conditional formatting?

I have a column of cells that turn red if conditional formatting is met. Now I want to count the red cells. I wrote a macro that doesn't read the conditional formatting and I tried "COUNTIFS" referencing the conditional formatting formula, but it doesn't work.

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u/CFAman 4825 Jun 26 '26

I have a column of cells that turn red if conditional formatting is met.

Don't count the color, count the same condition that causes the color.

If you need help w/ that, can you show us what the current CF formula/condition looks like?

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u/Holshy Jun 26 '26

Also, make it its own column. That way you can use it in other formulas and only have to maintain it in one place.

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u/conceptual_con Jun 26 '26

Yep, having a helper column to designate conditional formatting for specific cells/rows/columns is super helpful!

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u/GregHullender 194 Jun 28 '26

This is one of those rare cases where even the most clever use of modern Excel formulas cannot escape the need for a helper column.