Try the example, then check the result.
Download the fictional material and follow the steps below. The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. Product controls may vary by version.
Check the answer before applying the method to your own data. How we review guides ↗
Watch the complete lesson.
The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.
Quick answer. Filter blank cells before taking UNIQUE, then count the returned rows: =ROWS(UNIQUE(FILTER(A2:A9,A2:A9<>""))). The fictional list contains four distinct nonblank customer names.
Use the fictional practice file: customer-count-practice.csv, plus the independent answer check. Work in a copy. This guide stands on its own without the video.
Scope and limits. UNIQUE and FILTER require a modern Excel version. The practice has at least one nonblank customer; an all-blank input needs an explicit empty-case rule. Leading/trailing spaces or spelling variants can create separate names and need cleaning before counting.
1. Reconcile rows, entries, and names
The source range A2:A9 contains North Pier twice, Cedar Lab twice, Harbor Co once, Ridge Works once, and two blanks. The independent answer list is North Pier, Cedar Lab, Harbor Co, Ridge Works.
Checkpoint: 8 rows; 6 filled entries; 4 distinct names.
2. Filter blanks before UNIQUE
In a free cell enter =ROWS(UNIQUE(FILTER(A2:A9,A2:A9<>""))). FILTER excludes blank cells, UNIQUE returns each remaining name once, and ROWS counts that final list. Keep the formula outside the input range.
Checkpoint: The result cell displays 4.
3. Inspect the distinct-name list
Optionally display =UNIQUE(FILTER(A2:A9,A2:A9<>"")) in an empty output area. Inspect each of the four spilled names. The count formula and the visible distinct list should agree without changing the raw rows.
Checkpoint: Four expected names, no blank result.
4. Do not confuse distinct with once-only
Do not set UNIQUE's exactly_once argument to TRUE for this task. That option keeps only names occurring once. Here distinct means every different name once, even when it appears on multiple orders.
Checkpoint: Distinct count 4; once-only count would be 2.
Verify the result
The unique nonblank names are North Pier, Cedar Lab, Harbor Co, and Ridge Works: four customers. The source range A2:A9 has eight rows, six nonblank entries, and two blank rows. North Pier and Cedar Lab repeat; neither repeat adds to the distinct count. The formula =ROWS(UNIQUE(FILTER(A2:A9,A2:A9<>""))) returns 4 in supported modern Excel.
If it still does not work
If the count is five, inspect whether one blank entered the UNIQUE result. If it is six, you counted filled entries rather than distinct names. Trim or standardize inconsistent real-world names first; the formula does not decide whether similar spellings identify the same customer.
Official sources
- UNIQUE function (checked 26 October 2026).
- FILTER function (checked 26 October 2026).
- ROWS function (checked 26 October 2026).
Any instructional panel without a marked actual-app capture is an illustrative diagram of the fictional exercise.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.