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Range contains specific text

To determine if a range or column contains specific text (a specific substring or partial text), you can use a formula based on the COUNTIF function and wildcards. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is: =COUNTIF(rng,"*"&D5&"*")>0

April 14, 2025 · 1 min · 77 words · Karen Vasquez

Table of Contents

If no cells meet criteria, COUNTIF returns zero.

The asterisk (*) is awildcardfor one or more characters.

Byconcatenatingasterisks before and after the value in D5, the formula will count the value as a substring.

Excel formula: Value exists in a range

In other words, it will count the value if it appears anywhere inside any cell in the range.

Any positive result means the value was found.

With IF

You cannestthis formula inside theIF functionas the logical test.

Excel formula: Range contains one of many values

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Excel COUNTIF function

With IF#

With IF