How to Add Up a Column in Excel
Total a column in one click, one keystroke, or one formula — plus how to see the sum without a formula at all, and how to add up only the rows that meet a condition.
The quick answer: click the empty cell below your numbers and press Alt + =, then Enter. That's AutoSum. Here are the other three ways, including totalling only the rows that match a condition.
1. AutoSum (one keystroke)
Click the cell directly below the column, then press Alt + = (or click AutoSum on the Home tab). Excel drops in =SUM() with the range already guessed — check it and press Enter.
2. The SUM function
Type it yourself when you want control: =SUM(A2:A100) for a specific range, or =SUM(A:A) to add the whole column (it ignores text and the header). Put the whole-column version in a different column to avoid a circular reference.
3. No formula at all — the status bar
Just want to peek at the total? Select the cells and look at the status bar at the bottom of the window — it shows Sum, Average and Count of whatever you've selected. Nothing to type, nothing left behind.
4. Add up only what matches — SUMIF
To total a column just for certain rows: =SUMIF(B:B,"West",A:A) adds column A only where column B is "West". For more than one condition, use SUMIFS — covered in our multiple-criteria guide.
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