SUM Function

SUM Function in Excel
SUM Function in Excel
Excel SUM Function

About

The Excel SUM function is a MATH & TRIGONOMETRY function that can return the sum of values supplied into it. These values can be numbers, cell references, ranges, arrays or combination of all these.

SUM function in Excel can handle up to 255 individual arguments.

Function Type

Math and Trigonometry

Purpose

Add numbers

Return value

Sum of numbers supplied into the function

Syntax

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

Arguments

number1 – The first value to sum.

number2 – [optional] The second value to sum.


Examples

Sum of Direct values

In this example, the SUM function is used to find out the sum of 3 direct values 10, 20 and & 30

=SUM(10,20,30)

Sum of values in individual cells

The following formula will return the sum of values in the cells B2, B3, and B4

=SUM(B2,B3,B4)

Sum of values in a data range

The following formula will return the sum of values in the data range E2:E4

=SUM(E2:E4)

Sum of values in a two-dimensional data range

Formula to find the sum of values in the data range B2:F11

=SUM(B2:F11)

Combination of direct value, 2 cells references and a data range inside SUM function

The following formula will return the sum of values in the range B4:C7, cells C2 & B10 and the number 10

=SUM(B4:C7,C2,B10,10)

Notes

The SUM function will ignore Text values present in the data ranges or cell references used in it. If the data ranges or cell references contain an Excel Formula Error, the function will return an error.

To find out the sum of values in a data range that contains Excel Formula Errors, use AGGREGATE function.


Shortcut

Excel has a keyboard shortcut that will automatically insert the sum function.

ALT + = is the shortcut for AUTOSUM in Excel.


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Complete List of Excel Functions (Category wise)


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