Syntax
SUM(value1, [value2, ...])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| value1 | Parameter of the SUM function. |
| [value2 | (Optional.) Parameter of the SUM function. |
| ...] | Parameter of the SUM function. |
Examples
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Amount |
| 2 | Rent | 1500 |
| 3 | Groceries | 450 |
| 4 | Utilities | 200 |
| 5 | Transport | 150 |
| 6 | Insurance | 300 |
Sum a column of expenses
Formula
=SUM(B2:B10)
Returns: 4,250 — adds up all expense amounts in cells B2 through B10
Sum values from multiple ranges
Formula
=SUM(B2:B10, D2:D10)
Returns: 8,500 — adds values from two separate columns together
Sum with individual values
Formula
=SUM(A1, A3, A5, 100)
Returns: the total of three specific cells plus 100
Common Errors
#VALUE!
One or more cells contain text that cannot be converted to a number. Check for hidden characters or misformatted numbers.
#REF!
A referenced cell or range has been deleted. Update the formula to point to valid cells.
Tips
Quick sum shortcut
Select a range and look at the status bar at the bottom of your spreadsheet — it shows the SUM automatically without needing a formula.
SUM vs adding cells
Use SUM(A1:A100) instead of =A1+A2+A3+... — SUM handles blank cells gracefully and is much easier to maintain.
Ignoring errors
If your range contains errors, wrap it: =SUM(IFERROR(B2:B10, 0)) to skip error cells.
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