Excel SUM function: how to add a range
SUM adds numbers. Type =SUM(B2:B7) to add every value from B2 through B7. You can also add separate cells or ranges, like =SUM(B2,B4,B6) or =SUM(B2:B4,D2:D4).
The examples use this small sales table, the same one in the practice box below.
| A Rep | B Sales | D Target | E Region | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dana | 1,250 | 1,000 | East |
| 3 | Luis | 830 | 1,000 | West |
| 4 | Priya | 2,100 | 1,000 | East |
| 5 | Marcus | 475 | 1,000 | North |
| 6 | Jen | 990 | 1,000 | West |
| 7 | Omar | 1,600 | 1,000 | East |
Syntax
=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)Each argument can be a number, a cell or a range. Text and blank cells are skipped.
Example
=SUM(B2:B7) returns 7,245, the total of all six sales.
Why SUM beats adding cells one by one
=B2+B3+B4+B5+B6+B7 gives the same answer today. But if someone inserts a row inside the range, SUM grows to include it and the plus-sign version doesn't. Tests often check that you used a range for this reason.
Common mistakes
- Including the header.
=SUM(B1:B7)still works because SUM skips the text "Sales", but some tests mark it wrong. Start at the first data row. - Including the total row.
=SUM(B2:B8)in cell B8 creates a circular reference. - Numbers stored as text. Numbers pasted from other systems sometimes arrive as text, and SUM ignores them. Look for a small green triangle in the cell corner.
Faster ways to SUM
In Excel, select the cell under a column and press Alt + = for AutoSum. In Google Sheets, type =SUM( and drag over the range.
Try it: Total sales
Put the total of all six sales in B8.
Graded live, like a real Excel test. Press New numbers to prove you didn't memorize the answer. More practice
Questions people ask
Does SUM ignore text?
Yes. SUM skips text and blank cells in a range. Numbers typed as text are skipped too, which is a common source of wrong totals.
Practice on a real spreadsheet
CellReady grades your formula the moment you press Enter and tells you why a wrong answer is wrong. The first 7 lessons are free, with no sign-up to start.
Related guides
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How to use SUMIF in Excel, the argument order that trips people up, using cell references in the condition, and a live exercise.
What the $ sign does in Excel formulas, the difference between A1, $A$1, $A1 and A$1, the F4 shortcut, and a live exercise.