---
title: "Count Field - Overview | Airtable Support"
slug: "count-field-overview"
description: "A count field lets you count the number of linked records in a record link column. To configure a count column, you simply choose the..."
updated: 2026-03-06T22:36:40Z
published: 2026-03-06T22:36:40Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.airtable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Count field overview

| **Plan Availability** | All plan types |
| --- | --- |
| **Permissions** | - **Owner** / **Creator** - Can add, delete, duplicate, rename, and customize fields - **Editors** - Sort, filter, group, hide, and copy field URL - **Commenters / Read-only** - Copy field URL |
| **Platform(s)** | Web/Browser, Mac app, and Windows app (with some additional limited support on mobile) |

## What are count fields in Airtable?

A count field allows you to count the number of linked records in a record link column.

## Creating count fields in Airtable

> [!CAUTION]
> Note
> 
> Your base's table must have a [linked record field](/docs/linked-record-field) before creating a count field.

To create a count field:

1. Open your [Airtable home screen](https://airtable.com/account).
2. Open the base and table where you want to add a count field.
3. Click the **+** button next to the field furthest to the right in your view.
  1. Alternatively, you can click the dropdown next to the name of an existing field and insert the next field by clicking **← Insert left** or **→ Insert right**.
4. Search for “Count” or scroll down to the **Count** option and click it.
5. Name the new field.
6. Click **Choose a field in this table**, then select your preferred linked record field.
7. Click **Create field**.

## No available sources error in count fields

During the setup process, you may see “No available sources to count. Add a count source, then try to configure your count again.” This means that the table you are working in does not contain any linked record fields currently. You’ll need to exit the count field configuration process and add a linked record field first.

> [!CAUTION]
> Note
> 
> If you are looking to count data held in other field types, then you will likely need to create a custom formula field. Customers using Airtable AI can try asking Omni to help you build a formula field to perform the calculation you are wanting.

## Counting records in scripts and automations

Count fields automatically count linked records without requiring any code. However, if you're working with scripts or automations, you may need to count records programmatically in scripts. When to use Count fields vs. programmatic counting:

- Use Count fields when you need to automatically track the number of linked records in a relationship
- Use programmatic counting in scripts when you need to count records based on complex criteria, perform calculations across multiple tables, or integrate counting logic into automated workflows

When writing custom scripts in the Scripting extension or in automation actions, you can count records using JavaScript methods:

- `// Count all records in a query`

`let query = await table.selectRecordsAsync();`

`let recordCount = query.records.length;`
- `// Count records that meet specific criteria`

`let filteredCount = query.records.filter(record => `

`  record.getCellValue("Status") === "Complete"`

`).length;`

## FAQs

**How do I format a rollup field's output?**

[Consult this support article](https://support.airtable.com/docs/number-based-fields-in-airtable#formatting-numberbased-fields) for more information on number-based field formatting.