The quickest way to sum a column in Excel is AutoSum. Click the empty cell right below your numbers and press Alt + = (or click AutoSum on the Home tab), then press Enter. Excel inserts a formula like =SUM(B2:B6) and shows the total. To see a total without adding a formula, select the cells and look at Sum in the status bar at the bottom of the window.
Method 1: AutoSum
- Click the first empty cell below the column of numbers.
- Press Alt + = (Command + Shift + T on a Mac), or click Home > AutoSum (Σ).
- Check that the highlighted range covers all your numbers. Drag to adjust it if needed.
- Press Enter.
Method 2: Type the SUM formula
- Click the cell where you want the total.
- Type
=SUM(, select the cells to add, type), and press Enter. For example:=SUM(B2:B6).
To add the whole column, including rows you add later, use =SUM(B:B). Put this formula in a different column, or it will count itself and cause a circular reference.
Method 3: Check the status bar
Select the numbers. The status bar at the bottom right shows Sum, Average, and Count. Right-click the status bar to choose which values appear. This doesn’t add anything to your sheet.
Method 4: Use a table total row
- Click inside your data and press Ctrl + T to make it a table.
- On the Table Design tab, check Total Row.
- Click the total cell under your column and choose Sum from the drop-down.
The total updates as you add rows, and it ignores rows you filter out.
Sum only visible (filtered) cells
SUM includes hidden rows. To total only what’s visible after filtering, use =SUBTOTAL(109,B2:B100) or =AGGREGATE(9,5,B2:B100).
Sum based on a condition
=SUMIF(A2:A20,"Groceries",B2:B20)adds amounts where column A says Groceries; to total every category at once, create a pivot table in Excel.=SUMIFS(B2:B20,A2:A20,"Groceries",C2:C20,">=1/1/2026")adds amounts that meet several conditions.
Sum shows 0 or the wrong total?
- Numbers stored as text: Look for green triangles in the cells. Select them, click the warning icon, and choose Convert to Number.
- Formula shows instead of result: The cell may be formatted as Text, or Show Formulas is on (Ctrl + ` toggles it).
- Wrong range: Click the total and check the highlighted range.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the AutoSum shortcut?
Alt + = on Windows and Command + Shift + T on a Mac.
Can I sum several columns at once?
Yes. Select the empty cells below each column and press Alt + =. Excel adds a SUM to each one.
How do I sum a row instead?
Click the empty cell to the right of the row and press Alt + =.
Does this work in Excel for the web?
Yes. AutoSum and the SUM function work the same in Excel for the web.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.