The SUM function – All Tricks

Last Updated on 01/11/2024
Reading time: 2 minutes

The SUM function is the most common function used in Excel and also the simplest to use. There are many ways to perform a Sum in Excel

  1. Write the name SUM in a cell to create a function to add all the cells of your range
  2. The symbol in the ribbon creates a SUM in a cell
  3. The Shortcut Alt + =
  4. Quick Analysis is a tool that will perform a sum (or other basic statistical calculation) just by selecting an icon

Don't add the cells one by one ⛔

When you work with Excel for the very first time, many people start to create their first formula by selecting many cells

=A1+A2+A3+A4+ ...

The calculation will be correct for sure but what a waste of time, especially if you have hundreds of cells to add 😤😱😡 If you have to calculate the sum of many cells in a quick way, it's much better to use the function SUM.

#1: Write the SUM function in a cell

To perform a SUM function in Excel it's very simple

  1. Start with the = sign in your cell
  2. Then, you enter the word SUM
  3. Then you open a parenthesis.
  4. Select all the cells that you want to include in your sum
  5. Close the parenthesis

=SUM(A1:A5)

Demo to see the fonction SUM in action

#2: The Sigma symbol

Instead of writing the formula directly in the cell, you can use the symbol Sigma in the ribbon, in the Home tab

Sigma symbol (or Sum symbol) in the ribbon

The method is simple. You can either

  • Select the cell to add and then click on the icon
  • Or, select the cell just under your values then press
How to do a sum with the Sum symbol in the ribbon

#3: The Shortcut

You can also create the SUM function with the shortcut Alt + =

  1. Select your data to add
  2. Press Alt + =

#4: The Quick Analysis

The last technique you can use it's with the Quick Analysis Tool.

  1. Select your Data
  2. Click on the Quick Analysis icon
  3. Go to the menu Totals
  4. Select the option Sum of the rows or Sum for the columns
SUM with Quick Analysis

Dynamic sum

You can create a dynamic sum by using the INDEX function. This is more for advanced Excel users

Dynamic SUM with INDEX and MATCH

Related Article

5 Comments

  1. angus
    15/02/2022 @ 00:28

    cool 🙂

    Reply

  2. Colette N Martin
    17/09/2019 @ 06:03

    Loke the easy to follow instructions

    Reply

    • Frédéric LE GUEN
      26/11/2019 @ 15:25

      Reply

  3. Sarah
    19/11/2018 @ 12:35

    Very easy to understand, thank you.

    Reply

  4. Mithu Roy
    26/06/2018 @ 09:39

    Thank you sir for your nice & easy Free Excel Exercise online. It's important.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The SUM function – All Tricks

Reading time: 2 minutes
Last Updated on 01/11/2024

The SUM function is the most common function used in Excel and also the simplest to use. There are many ways to perform a Sum in Excel

  1. Write the name SUM in a cell to create a function to add all the cells of your range
  2. The symbol in the ribbon creates a SUM in a cell
  3. The Shortcut Alt + =
  4. Quick Analysis is a tool that will perform a sum (or other basic statistical calculation) just by selecting an icon

Don't add the cells one by one ⛔

When you work with Excel for the very first time, many people start to create their first formula by selecting many cells

=A1+A2+A3+A4+ ...

The calculation will be correct for sure but what a waste of time, especially if you have hundreds of cells to add 😤😱😡 If you have to calculate the sum of many cells in a quick way, it's much better to use the function SUM.

#1: Write the SUM function in a cell

To perform a SUM function in Excel it's very simple

  1. Start with the = sign in your cell
  2. Then, you enter the word SUM
  3. Then you open a parenthesis.
  4. Select all the cells that you want to include in your sum
  5. Close the parenthesis

=SUM(A1:A5)

Demo to see the fonction SUM in action

#2: The Sigma symbol

Instead of writing the formula directly in the cell, you can use the symbol Sigma in the ribbon, in the Home tab

Sigma symbol (or Sum symbol) in the ribbon

The method is simple. You can either

  • Select the cell to add and then click on the icon
  • Or, select the cell just under your values then press
How to do a sum with the Sum symbol in the ribbon

#3: The Shortcut

You can also create the SUM function with the shortcut Alt + =

  1. Select your data to add
  2. Press Alt + =

#4: The Quick Analysis

The last technique you can use it's with the Quick Analysis Tool.

  1. Select your Data
  2. Click on the Quick Analysis icon
  3. Go to the menu Totals
  4. Select the option Sum of the rows or Sum for the columns
SUM with Quick Analysis

Dynamic sum

You can create a dynamic sum by using the INDEX function. This is more for advanced Excel users

Dynamic SUM with INDEX and MATCH

Related Article

5 Comments

  1. angus
    15/02/2022 @ 00:28

    cool 🙂

    Reply

  2. Colette N Martin
    17/09/2019 @ 06:03

    Loke the easy to follow instructions

    Reply

    • Frédéric LE GUEN
      26/11/2019 @ 15:25

      Reply

  3. Sarah
    19/11/2018 @ 12:35

    Very easy to understand, thank you.

    Reply

  4. Mithu Roy
    26/06/2018 @ 09:39

    Thank you sir for your nice & easy Free Excel Exercise online. It's important.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *