Practical guide

How to Use the SUM Formula in Excel

SUM adds numeric values in cells and ranges. It is usually safer and easier to maintain than typing each cell address into an addition expression.

What to do

To total a column, enter =SUM(B2:B20) in an empty result cell.
To add separate ranges, use =SUM(B2:B20,D2:D20). You can also include individual numbers or cells as arguments.
Use AutoSum on the Home or Formulas tab to suggest a nearby range, then verify the selected cells before confirming.
Test the formula by temporarily checking a few values or comparing the total with a filtered or independently calculated sample.

SUM ignores text in referenced cells, so numbers stored as text may be left out without an obvious error.
Avoid placing the total cell inside the range being summed, which can create a circular reference.

Use Excel SUM to total cells and ranges, with a small sales example and checks for common totaling errors.

=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

=SUM(C2:C5)

Example result: 550.

Item	Region	Sales	Status
Widget	North	120	Paid
Cable	South	80	Paid
Widget	North	200	Pending
Desk	North	150	Paid

Total the sales amounts in a short order list, then expand the range when new rows are added.

Leaving a new row outside a fixed sum range.
Assuming a number stored as text will be included; SUM ignores text values in referenced cells.

SUBTOTAL can respond to filtered rows. SUMPRODUCT supports more complex array calculations.

SUM is available in current desktop, web, and mobile Excel versions; localized function names or list separators can differ by regional settings.

Does SUM ignore blank cells?

Yes. Blank cells and text in referenced cells are not added.

How do I add cells from more than one range?

Pass additional ranges as arguments, for example =SUM(B2:B10,D2:D10).