Try this:

=SUMPRODUCT((COLUMN(B2:H2)={2;4;6;8})*ISBLANK(B2:H 2))

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron (XL2003, Win XP)
Microsoft MVP (Excel)

"jenniebentham" wrote in message
...
I need to be able to count the number of blank cells in a range, but my
range
is made up of non-consecutive cells, ie B2, D2, F2, H2.

I have tried naming the range 'actual' and then using =COUNTBLANK(actual)
but I get #VALUE!

I have also tried =COUNTBLANK(B2,D2,F2,H2) but it will not accept the
formula.

Any suggestions?