In this article
SUM adds numbers, cell references and ranges. It ignores text and empty cells, which makes it the safest way to total a column.
Syntax
=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
number1 |
A number, cell or range to add. |
number2… |
Optional: up to 255 more numbers or ranges. |
Examples
Example 1
=SUM(B2:B13)Total of twelve monthly values.
Example 2
=SUM(B2:B13, D2:D13)Two separate ranges added together.
Example 3
=SUM(Sales[Amount])Total of a table column — keeps working as rows are added.
Power combo
=SUM(Jan:Dec!B5)A 3D reference: adds cell B5 on every sheet from Jan to Dec — a yearly total across monthly sheets.
Common errors and fixes
| You see | Why, and the fix |
|---|---|
Total looks too small |
Some numbers are stored as text (left-aligned, green triangle). Convert them with Data → Text to Columns → Finish. |
#VALUE! |
Usually from a formula like =A1+A2 with text. SUM ignores text, so switch to SUM. |
💡 Select the cell below a column and press Alt+= to insert SUM automatically.
Related functions
SUMIF · SUMIFS · SUBTOTAL · SUMPRODUCT
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