5 ways to sum a column in Excel

This tutorial shows how to sum a column in Excel 2010 - 2016. Try out 5 different ways to total columns: find the sum of the selected cells on the Status bar, use AutoSum in Excel to sum all or only filtered cells, employ the SUM function or convert your range to Table for easy calculations.

If you store such data as price lists or expense sheets in Excel, you may need a quick way to sum up prices or amounts. Today I'll show you how to easily total columns in Excel. In this article, you'll find tips that work for summing up the entire column as well as hints allowing to sum only filtered cells in Excel.

Below you can see 5 different suggestions showing how to sum a column in Excel. You can do this with the help of the Excel SUM and AutoSum options, you can use Subtotal or turn your range of cells into Excel Table which will open new ways of processing your data.

How to sum a column in Excel with one click

There is one really fast option. Just click on the letter of the column with the numbers you want to sum and look at the Excel Status bar to see the total of the selected cells.
See the sum of the selected cells in the Excel Status bar

Being really quick, this method neither allows copying nor displays numeric digits.

How to total columns in Excel with AutoSum

If you want to sum up a column in Excel and keep the result in your table, you can employ the AutoSum function. It will automatically add up the numbers and will show the total in the cell you select.

  1. To avoid any additional actions like range selection, click on the first empty cell below the column you need to sum.
    Click on the first empty cell after the numbers you want to sum in Excel
  2. Navigate to the Home tab -> Editing group and click on the AutoSum button.
    Click on the AutoSum button
  3. You will see Excel automatically add the =SUM function and pick the range with your numbers.
    Select the range with the numbers you want to total and press Enter
  4. Just press Enter on your keyboard to see the column totaled in Excel.
    See the sum appear in your table

This method is fast and lets you automatically get and keep the summing result in your table.

Use the SUM function to total a column

You can also enter the SUM function manually. Why would you need this? To total only some of the cells in a column or to specify an address for a large range instead of selecting it manually.

  1. Click on the cell in your table where you want to see the total of the selected cells.
    Click on the first empty cell after the numbers you want to sum in Excel
  2. Enter =sum( to this selected cell.
    Enter the SUM function to the selected cell
  3. Now select the range with the numbers you want to total and press Enter on your keyboard.

    Tip. You can enter the range address manually like =sum(B1:B2000). It's helpful if you have large ranges for calculation.
    Select the range with the numbers you want to total and press Enter

    That's it! You will see the column summed. The total will appear in the correct cell.
    See the sum appear in your table

This option is really handy if you have a large column to sum in Excel and don't want to highlight the range. However, you still need to enter the function manually. In addition, please be prepared that the SUM function will work even with the values from hidden and filtered rows. If you want to sum visible cells only, read on and learn how.

Tips:

Use Subtotal in Excel to sum only filtered cells

This feature is perfect for totaling only the visible cells. As a rule, these are filtered or hidden cells.

  1. First, filter your table. Click on any cell within your data, go to the Data tab and click on the Filter icon.
    Click on the Filter icon
  2. You will see arrows appear in the column headers. Click on the arrow next to the correct header to narrow down the data.
    Click on this arrow to filter your data
  3. Uncheck Select All and tick off only the value(s) to filter by. Click OK to see the results.
    Tick off only the value or values to filter by
  4. Select the range with the numbers to add up and click AutoSum under the Home tab.
    Click on the AutoSum buttonVoila! Only the filtered cells in the column are summed up.

    Only the filtered values in the column are summed up

If you want to sum visible cells but don't need the total to be pasted to your table, you can select the range and see the sum of the selected cells on the Excel Status bar. Or you can go ahead and see one more option for summing only filtered cells.

Convert your data into Excel table to get total for your column

If you often need to sum columns, you can convert your spreadsheet to Excel Table. This will simplify totaling columns and rows as well as performing many other operations with your list.

  1. Press Ctrl + T on yourkeyboardto format the range of cells as Excel Table.
  2. You will see the new Design tab appear. Navigate to this tab and tick the checkbox Total Row.
    Tick the checkbox Total Row
  3. A new row will be added at the end of your table. To make sure you get the sum, select the number in the new row and click on the small down arrow next to it. Pick the Sum option from the list.
    Pick the Sum option from the listUsing this option lets you easily display totals for each column. You can see sum as well as many other functions like Average, Min and Max.

    This feature adds up only visible (filtered) cells. If you need to calculate all data, feel free to employ instructions from How to total columns in Excel with AutoSum and Enter the SUM function manually to total the column.

Whether you need to sum the entire column in Excel or total only visible cells, in this article I covered all possible solutions. Choose an option that will work for your table: check the sum on the Excel Status bar, use the SUM or SUBTOTAL function, check out the AutoSum functionality or format your data as Table.

If you have any questions or difficulties, don't hesitate to leave comments. Be happy and excel in Excel!

Table of contents

98 comments

  1. how to add the 11-60 in excel in single field

  2. I want to get a total of the last number entered in column L and the last number entered in column J automatically. That sum needs to be entered in column L as soon as I enter a number in column j.

    Example: column L last number entered on line 380 + last number entered in column J line 381. sum to be automatic as soon as column J is entered. Want this to continue all the way until I finish all columns at end of work sheet.
    What is the formula (or macro) I need?

  3. Hello!

    I have a doubt, although is not exactly about what is being discussed here... on summations in excel.
    I want to add the values of columns and rows,

    A B C
    A X 1 3
    B 2 X 8
    C 4 2 X

    To obtain: (A+B and B+A in their respective cells, etc)

    A B C
    A X 3 7
    B 3 X 10
    C 7 10 X

    I have been checking how but haven't found yet. The problem is that I have huge matrices, that contain thousands of values, so I can't really do by hand one by one, plus I can make errors continously due to mistaking lines...It would take me weeks...

    Could anyone tell me how to get this in an automatic way?

    Thank you very much!

    Best reagards,

    miguel

  4. I think this should be easy, but I can't seem to find a solution. If I have a cell that contains "=SUM(C9:C14)", what's the best way to automatically color fill all of the cells in that range? Similar to Crtl-[ but automatic. Thank you.

  5. Could somebody help me in finding a formula that suits my needs? Through using conditional formatting, I used the highlight cell rule if it has text that contains key words. I want a formula to highlight the row in the same colour as the key word column. E.g. if cells in column c contain the word Apple, highlight the cells green. If cells C8 and C12 contain that word, I then want those two rows (8 and 12) to highlight green. I apologise if the answer's really obvious, I'm just really stuck!

    • Hi Yasemin,

      Please try to do the following:
      1. Select cells with your data.
      3. Click Conditional Formatting -> New Rule.
      4. Select the "Use a formula to determine which cells to format".
      5. In the Formula field type the following formula:
      =NOT(ISERROR(SEARCH("Apple", $C1)))
      6. Click the Format button to set the format you need.
      7. Click OK.

  6. hiii

    sir/madam

    i have to sum

    1200 cft (i have to mention amount & Measurment both in each sales )
    1300 cft
    1400 cft
    total---------?

    please inform me

  7. kako u excelu dobijene vrednosti zaokruziti na 5 ili 9
    npr. 27,2 =25 ili 27,6 =29

  8. kako u excelu dobijene vrednosti zaokruziti na 5 ili 9
    npr. 27,2 =25 ili 27,6 =29

  9. if i want get a sum of cells data in a column (if it is in time format like 7:30, 1:45 what is the method please ?

    if i do it normal way it calculates up to 24:00 and total is a wrong figure ?

  10. how to do outstanding amount. example: 1+1+1 total = 3 outstanding 0

    pLease advice

  11. Is there a way to total the sums of only the highlighted cells in a spreadsheet? I accrue my expenses for each of my jobs and then highlight when the expense is received so it would be nice to be able to determine what expenses have been received already.

  12. i want to count total 10 cell in single short i am using sum formula, my problem is in between 2 cell have a formula that 2 cell values not count in total how to count 10 cell

  13. Good Afternoon, I wanted to know how do I capture all the total in line C.To add all totals together. I know I click on each total with the plus sign. It's just not working can you tell me what other keys I need to hold. Thanks

  14. Please help my on this formula
    I want every cell in the row more than 60 to give me the difference otherwise if it is 60 than give me a 0
    My formula looks like:
    =IF('TOTAL WEEK 1'!$D$4:$R$4>60;'TOTAL WEEK 1'!$D$4:$R$4-60;0)
    But if give me only a result if it is more in the first cell not in the following cells .
    Thank you in advance

  15. بسم الله الرّحمن الرّحیم
    hello
    thank you very much.
    It,s very good....

  16. How can you get the AutoSum of all fill column blocks.

  17. Hi, Is there any way to change for example =4+4+5+6 to column like
    4
    4
    5
    6

    Regards

    • Hi Rawa,

      First you need to use the Excel Text to Columns option to get the numbers in separate cells. Then use Paste Special -> Transpose.

  18. when I insert data into columns and press auto sum, i get the total. But when I delete the data from one of the column, the total still remains the same. It doesn't change. How do i rectify this problem?

  19. Amanda,

    The semi-manual approach to assist manual deletion would be to use Auto Filter or Sort to display sorted lists sorted by column C, then column B (where C is the same) then column A (where the previous two are the same), then column D (where all are the same). This way you get a block of rows with Jane, Smith, Excel Training Basics, Date and can keep the latest date and delete the rest.

    The automated way would be to insert a new Worksheet to show the latest training only, leaving previous training on your existing Worksheet, say "Sheet1". You could then write a Visual Basic macro to copy rows from "Sheet1" into your new sheet, sort them and find the most recent dates of each instance where A, B, and C match up. Recording a macro where you manually invoke the appropriate Copy and Sort will help you see which functions to call to automate it, but it's hardly a beginner's task.

    • Congratulations to you, am former. computer study I enjoyed the program of ISU

  20. Hi, Svetlana,

    I'm a bit stuck on finding a formula that will suit my needs. My spreadsheet has column A: first name; column B: last name; column C: type of training; column D: date of training.

    I need a formula that will look at column A, B, and C and if they match any other row in column A, B, and C I need it to select the most recent date.

    this will remove all duplicate training and keep only their most current training record.

    Any suggestions? i'm stumped on this one.

Post a comment



Thank you for your comment!
When posting a question, please be very clear and concise. This will help us provide a quick and relevant solution to
your query. We cannot guarantee that we will answer every question, but we'll do our best :)