How to Sum Cells in Microsoft Excel (SUM, SUMIF, SUMIFS Functions), by Cody Baldwin on YouTube. 2 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open your spreadsheet and click the cell where the total should appear. Leave a blank row below your data so the formula does not include itself.
Type =SUM( and then select the range of cells you want to add, such as B2:B20. Close the bracket and press Enter to see the total.
For a single condition, type =SUMIF(. The first argument is the range to check, such as A2:A20, the column holding your categories.
Add a comma, then the condition in quotes, such as "North", then a comma and the range to add, such as B2:B20. Press Enter.
For two or more conditions, type =SUMIFS(. The sum range comes first here, so select the numbers to add, such as B2:B20.
Add each condition as a pair: the range to check, a comma, then the value in quotes. For example A2:A20,"North",C2:C20,">100".
Close the bracket and press Enter. Check the result against a few rows you can count by hand to make sure the ranges line up.
Copy the formula down or across if you need totals for other categories. Use absolute references with $ if the ranges must stay fixed.
Tips and common mistakes
SUMIFS puts the sum range first, while SUMIF puts it last, so mixing them up is a common error.
Wrap text conditions in quotes and use operators like >100 or North inside the quotes.
Keep ranges the same size in every argument or Excel returns a wrong total or an error.
Questions
What is the difference between SUMIF and SUMIFS?
SUMIF handles one condition. SUMIFS handles two or more and also works with a single condition, but its sum range comes first.
Why does my SUMIF return 0?
The condition text may not match the cells exactly, or the ranges may be different sizes. Check for extra spaces and confirm both ranges cover the same rows.
Can I sum cells that are not next to each other?
Yes. In SUM, separate each cell or range with a comma, like =SUM(A1,B5,C10).
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
