by In this tutorial, you will find a handful of advanced formula examples that demonstrate how to use Excel's VLOOKUP and SUM or SUMIF functions to look up and sum values based on one or several criteria.
Are you trying to create a summary file in Excel that will identify all instances of one particular value, and then sum other values that are associated with those instances? Or, do you need to find all values in an array that meet the condition you specify and then sum the related values from another worksheet? Or maybe you are faced with a more concrete challenge, like looking through a table of your company invoices, identifying all invoices of a particular vendor, and then summing all the invoice values?
The tasks may vary, but the essence is the same - you want to look up and sum values with one or several criteria in Excel. What kind of values? Any numeric values. What sort of criteria? Any : ) Starting from a number or reference to a cell containing the right value, and ending with logical operators and results returned by Excel formulas.
So, does Microsoft Excel have any functionality that can help with the above tasks? Of course, it does! You can work out a solution by combining Excel's VLOOKUP or LOOKUP with SUM or SUMIF functions. The formula examples that follow below will help you understand how these Excel functions work and how to apply them to real data.
Please note, these are advanced examples that imply you are familiar with the general principles and syntax of the VLOOKUP function. If not, the first part of our VLOOKUP tutorial for beginners is certainly worth your attention - Excel VLOOKUP syntax and general usages.
Excel VLOOKUP and SUM - find the sum of matching values
If you work with numerical data in Excel, quite often you have not just to extract associated values from another table but also sum numbers in several columns or rows. To do this, you can use a combination of the SUM and VLOOKUP functions as demonstrated below.
Source data:
Suppose, you have a product list with sales figures for several months, a column per each month. The source data is on the sheet named Monthly Sales:
Now, you want to make a summary table with the total sales for each product.
The solution is to use an array in the 3rd parameter (col_index_num) of the Excel VLOOKUP function. Here is a generic formula:
As you see, we use an array constant in the third argument to perform several lookups within the same VLOOKUP formula in order to get the sum of values in columns 2,3 and 4.
And now, let's adjust this combination of VLOOKUP and SUM functions for our data to find the total of sales in columns B - M in the above table:
=SUM(VLOOKUP(B2, 'Monthly sales'! $A$2:$M$9, {2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}, FALSE))
Important! Since you are building an array formula, be sure to hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter instead of a simple Enter keystroke when you finished typing. When you do this, Microsoft Excel encloses your formula in curly braces like this:
{=SUM(VLOOKUP(B2, 'Monthly sales'!$A$2:$M$9, {2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13}, FALSE))}
If you press the Enter key as usual, only the first value in the array will get processed, which will produce incorrect results.
Tip. You may be curious why the formula displays [@Product] as the lookup value in the screenshot above. This is because I converted my data to table (Insert tab > Table). I find it very convenient to work with fully-functional Excel tables and their structured references. For example, when you type a formula into one cell, Excel automatically copies it across the entire column and in this way saves you a few precious seconds :)
As you see, using the VLOOKUP and SUM functions in Excel is easy. However, this is not the ideal solution, especially if you are working with big tables. The point is that using array formulas may adversely affect the workbook's performance since each value in the array makes a separate call of the VLOOKUP function. So, the more values you have in the array and the more array formulas you have in your workbook, the slower Excel works.
You can bypass this problem by using a combination of the INDEX and MATCH functions instead of SUM and VLOOKUP, and I will show you a few formula examples in the next article.
Download this VLOOKUP and SUM sample
How to perform other calculations with Excel VLOOKUP function
A moment ago we discussed an example of how you can extract values from several columns in the lookup table and calculate the sum of those values. In the same fashion, you can perform other mathematical calculations with the results returned by the VLOOKUP function. Here are a few formula examples:
| Operation | Formula example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate average | {=AVERAGE(VLOOKUP(A2, 'Lookup Table'$A$2:$D$10, {2,3,4}, FALSE))} | The formula searches for the value of cell A2 in 'Lookup table' and calculates the average of values in columns B,C and D in the same row. |
| Find maximum value | {=MAX(VLOOKUP(A2, 'Lookup Table'$A$2:$D$10, {2,3,4}, FALSE))} | The formula searches for the value of cell A2 in 'Lookup table' and finds the max value in columns B,C and D in the same row. |
| Find minimum value | {=MIN(VLOOKUP(A2, 'Lookup Table'$A$2:$D$10, {2,3,4}, FALSE))} | The formula searches for the value of cell A2 in 'Lookup table' and finds the min value in columns B,C and D in the same row. |
| Calculate % of sum | {=0.3*SUM(VLOOKUP(A2, 'Lookup Table'$A$2:$D$10, {2,3,4}, FALSE))} | The formula searches for the value of cell A2 in 'Lookup table', sums values in columns B,C and D in the same row, and then calculates 30% of the sum. |
Note. Since all of the above formulas are array formulas, remember to press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter them correctly in a cell.
If we add the above formulas to the 'Summary Sales' table from the previous example, the result will look similar to this:
Download this VLOOKUP calculations sample
LOOKUP AND SUM - look up in array and sum matching values
In case your lookup parameter is an array rather than a single value, the VLOOKUP function is of no avail because it cannot look up in data arrays. In this case, you can use Excel's LOOKUP function that is analogues to VLOOKUP but works with arrays as well as with individual values.
Let's consider the following example, so that you can better understand what I'm talking about. Suppose, you have a table that lists customer names, purchased products and quantity (Main table). You also have a second table containing the product prices (Lookup table). Your task is to make a formula that finds the total of all orders made by a given customer.
As you remember, you cannot utilize the Excel VLOOKUP function since you have multiple instances of the lookup value (array of data). Instead, you use a combination of SUM and LOOKUP functions like this:
=SUM(LOOKUP($C$2:$C$10,'Lookup table'!$A$2:$A$16,'Lookup table'!$B$2:$B$16)*$D$2:$D$10*($B$2:$B$10=$G$1))
Since this is an array formula, remember to press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to complete it.
And now, let's analyses the formula's ingredients so that you understand how each of the functions works and can to tweak it for your own data.
We'll put aside the SUM function for a while, because its purpose is obvious, and focus on the 3 components that are multiplied:
LOOKUP($C$2:$C$10,'Lookup table'!$A$2:$A$16,'Lookup table'!$B$2:$B$16)This LOOKUP function looks up the goods listed in column C in the main table, and returns the corresponding price from column B in the lookup table.
$D$2:$D$10This component returns quantity of each product purchased by each customer, which is listed in column D in the main table. Multiplied by the price, which is returned by the LOOKUP function above, it gives you the cost of each purchased product.
$B$2:$B$10=$G$1This formula compares the customers' names in column B with the name in cell G1. If a match is found, it returns "1", otherwise "0". You use it simply to "cut off" customers' names other than the name in cell G1, since all of us know that any number multiplied by zero is zero.
Because our formula is an array formula it iterates the process described above for each value in the lookup array. And finally, the SUM function sums the products of all multiplications. Nothing difficult at all, it is?
Note. For the LOOKUP formula to work correctly you need to sort the lookup column in your Lookup table in ascending order (from A to Z). If sorting is not acceptable on your data, check out an awesome SUM / TRANSPOSE formula suggested by Leo.
Download this LOOKUP and SUM sample
VLOOKUP and SUMIF - look up & sum values with criteria
Excel's SUMIF function is similar to SUM we've just discussed in the way that it also sums values. The difference is that the SUMIF function sums only those values that meet the criteria you specify. For example, the simplest SUMIF formula =SUMIF(A2:A10,">10") adds the values in cells A2 to A10 that are larger than 10.
This is very easy, right? And now let's consider a bit more complex scenario. Suppose you have a table that lists the sales persons' names and ID numbers (Lookup_table). You have another table that contains the same IDs and associated sales figures (Main_table). Your task is to find the total of sales made by a given person by their ID. At that, there are 2 complicating factors:
- The mail table contains multiple entries for the same ID in a random order.
- You cannot add the "Sales person names" column to the main table.
And now, let's make a formula that, firstly, finds all sales made by a given person, and secondly, sums the found values.
Before we start on the formula, let me remind you the syntax of the SUMIF function:
range- this parameter is self-explanatory, simply a range of cells that you want to evaluate by the specified criteria.criteria- the condition that tells the formula what values to sum. It can be supplied in the form of a number, cell reference, expression, or another Excel function.sum_range- this parameter is optional, but very important to us. It defines the range where the corresponding cells' values shall be added. If omitted, Excel sums the values of cells that are specified in the range argument (1st parameter).
Keeping the above info in mind, let's define the 3 parameters for our SUMIF function. As you remember, we want to sum all the sales made by a given person whose name is entered in cell F2 in the main table (please see the image above).
- Range - since we are searching by sales person ID, the range parameter for our SUMIF function is column B in the main table. So, you can enter the range B:B, or if you convert you data to a table, you can use the column's name instead:
Main_table[ID] - Criteria - because we have sales persons' names in another table (lookup table), we have to use the VLOOKUP formula to find the ID corresponding to a given person. The person's name is written in cell F2 in the main table, so we look it up using this formula:
VLOOKUP($F$2,Lookup_table,2,FALSE)Of course, you could enter the name in the lookup criteria of your VLOOKUP function, but using an absolute cell reference is a better approach because this creates a universal formula that works for any name input in a given cell.
- Sum range - this is the easiest part. Since our sales numbers are in column C named "Sales", we simply put
Main_table[Sales].Now, all you need is to assemble the formula's parts and your SUMIF + VLOOKUP formula is ready:
=SUMIF(Main_table[ID], VLOOKUP($F$2, Lookup_table, 2, FALSE), Main_table[Sales])
Download this VLOOKUP and SUMIF sample
Formula-free way to do vlookup in Excel
Finally, let me introduce you to the tool that can look up, match and merge your tables without any functions or formulas. The Merge Tables tool included with our Ultimate Suite for Excel was designed and develop as a time-saving and easy-to-use alternative to Excel's VLOOKUP and LOOKUP functions, and it can be very helpful both to beginners and advanced users.
Instead of figuring out formulas, you simply specify your main and lookup tables, define a common column or columns, and tell the wizard what data you want to fetch.
Then you allow the wizard a few seconds to look up, match and deliver you the results. If you think this add-in may prove helpful in your work, you are most welcome to download a trial version by using the below link.
Available downloads
VLOOKUP with SUM and SUMIF - formula examples (.xlsx file)
Ultimate Suite - trial version (.exe file)
429 comments
Hi Svetlana,
Could you please help me with my table. I have the below database with more than 680 rows of information. There are positive and negative values in the column, the total sum of which is zero. How do I build the formula to exclude all these matching values from the column?
Many thanks in advance for your help!
Kind regards
Hi, Viorica,
what do you understand by "matching values"? Those that are completely identical? Or maybe those of the same number but with different signs (positives/negatives)?
For now we can assume that if you have 0 as a result, it means that every positive value has a corresponding negative value. If you need to sum only positive ones, then:
=SUMIF(A1:J12, ">0")
For negatives only
=SUMIF(A1:J12, "<0")
If this won't solve your task, let us know more details.
Hello sir,
Could you help me I want to make my table. When I use SUMIF it just Sum for whole column only. I want to sum at concern code no. row and column. How can I sum code 100 in total by using SUMif or vlookup or hlookup or arry.
Code Job 1 job 2 job 3
100 $30
101 $50
103 $15
101 20
200 $10
103 $11
Best regards,
Ying Kham
Hello Svetlana,
I couldn't follow ur guide, could you pls help me guide to write one formula, forexample.
All my data in sheet2 and on sheet1 i have summary table that for specific ID of person i want summ all data from sheet2. how to do?
Hello,
I have a spreadsheet with different tabs. I want to figure out how to count how many sales of a particular product (9 products), was sold by each salesperson (150 sales people. In addition I want to figure out how much $ those sales produced by each salesperson. Theis data is housed on a tab called March 3 Data.
Please help.
Thank you
D
Hi.
I have an excel file with 30 tabs each with a range of financial data covering a 1yr period. I would like to, on a separate tab within the same file, create a formula which searches for the MAX and MIN value for each of those ranges of data, referencing (I suppose) two date cells which represent the range I am looking to search within. In other words, today, I would like to search for the MAX value during the last month on all of those tabs. And then, in a week, I would like to be able to adjust the search to again find the updated MAX value for the last month (ie, with the last data point being one week later). Can I do this? If so, how? Thanks, Kim
Hi,
Have a question regarding sum + vlookup. In your example, you made the col_index_num an array by using {2,3,4,5...}. Is there a way to make this dynamic by referencing a value in a cell? For example, I input a value into cell V1=2 and I would like it to sum over 12 columns i.e. V1 to V1+12. The array wont let me do {V1:V1+12}. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Praveen
across rows in the same column
I am trying to something very simple and cannot figure out how to do it by reading your examples. Let me explain. I have two spreadsheets where I am looking up the value in one an comparing it to the value in the other and where there is a match, returning the value in the corresponding column number =iferror(vlookup(B6,DetailDate!$D$59292:$BQ$59291,31,),0)
This returns the first value of the row that matches. The problem is that there are multiple rows that match and I need to sum them together before returning the value. What would the formula be?
The example sum(vlookup)you provided adds values across columns. I need to add them across rows.
I need to add the values in the same column but in multiple rows.
I tried to create an array for the one column (top to bottom) but it returns a 0 value.
Beautifully written and clear guide, thanks Svetlana!
I need some assistance with sumarising some detail information from the following sheet:
Category; Trx Date; VOLUME
In this sheet I have multiple categories that gets repeated on numerous Trx Dates.
I need to sumarise this information into a sheet that looks like this:
Trx Date 1 Trx Date2 Trx Date3
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Can someone please help me with the formula to achieve this.
Thanks
I HAVE 2 SPREADSHEET AND I WANT INVOICE NO. FROM 2ND SHEET IN 1ST SHEET BUT CONDITION IS THAT ALL PRODUCT CODE DETAILS MATCH WITH 2ND SHEET PRODUCT CODE PLEASE HELP ME WHAT FORMULA I USE.
I have a spreadsheet that adds up daily usage of a material and subracts from the balance. It also adds that incoming inventory back in.
Example =(K3781+I3782)-(J3782)
Currently I manully enter the projected usage into this cell, this then gives me the projected balance.
Example =(K3781+I3782)-(J3782)-940-568
I would like to be able to export the information into another tab and excel calculate for me. The problem that I have is that multiple usage on the same date. I dont want to sum because I would like to associate the usage to a partiacular number. I can also have the same number on the same date that drives usage. Would it be possible submit an eample of what I am trying to explain?
hi,
am looking for a formula where I can average 7 values from 8 by taking the first 5 and choosing the best 2 from the remaining 3 values.
hi
I am getting close to the formula
i want to enter a serial number in Column B1:B23 page 1
then it matches serial number page 2 column A:1:a23
than data(written and date) from page 2 column b,c shows up in page 1 column c,d
i cant get it without error and both columns showing up
Hi, So I have a column A of name of people and their spending in a year in Column. I need to calculate how much each person spent by looking up the name so that if new entries are added the SUM automatically gets updated. Is their a way?
So close. The solution I used was SUMIFS which is similar but uses two columns to grab info from a third.
Thanks.
Does the Vlookup and Sum work with repeated values? for example if you had 2 columns with the name apples and want to sum both of the totals for both of the apple columns into one combined total. I am trying to generate a spreadsheet that will wind repeating cost codes and add the repeating cost codes for me. Please let me know how i can go about this!
Hi
As part of a larger problem I want to calculate the sum of top "n" values, where n will be user defined.
The sum will be calculated for an array,which has been calculated using several conditions using array formulas.
Eg: After all the conditional array formula, say I am getting an array as {0;23;45;0;0;10;1}
This array is dynamic based on the conditions provided. So, is there a way to find the sum of say first 3 or first 4 non zero numbers from this arrray ?
Thanks in advance
Thanks for the great article and I'm hope I'm not repeating a previous question...
When writing in the numbers of your array {2, 3, 4, 5, 6} and so on, is there a way to list an entire range of values at once? Say if you want to sum indexes 2 to 100. I noticed you mentioned the index function if I'm trying to sum over hundreds of columns for a given criteria. Should I not be using this array vlookup option for this case?
Happy to investigate another link if the answer is already out there. Pass it my way.
Thanks again for your clear explanations!
Ed
Hi all
Could you please tell me how in range of say some amounts, how to arrive at a particular sum amount. Suppose I have 50 Invoice amount due from a customer. I received a payment which includes 10-20 invoices. how can i know which amounts add to that particular cheque amount. Could you please give me the formula. Thanks