How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel – 4 Methods

The sample dataset contains Categories and Expenses.

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel


Method 1 – Using the SUMIF Function to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

Steps:

  • Select a cell to see the result. Here, C11.
  • Enter the formula in C11.
=SUMIF(C5:C10,"<0",C5:C10)

Formula Breakdown

The SUMIF function sums all numbers that fulfill a given condition.

  • C5:C10 is the data range to apply the criteria.
  •  <0 is the criteria. Negative numbers or less than 0 will be summed. When you use criteria without selecting the cell value, you must use the Inverted Comma.
  • C5:C10 is the data range in which values will be summed.

  • Press ENTER to see the result.

This is the output.

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

Read More: How to Show Negative Numbers in Excel


Method 2 – Applying the AutoSum Feature to Add Negative Numbers

Steps:

  • Select a cell to see the result. Here, C11.
  • In the Home tab >> select Editing.
  • In AutoSum >> choose SUM.

  • Select the data range. Excel auto-selects the data range.

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

The Negative Number will be added.


Method 3 – Use the Format Cells Command and the SUM Function to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

Steps:

  •  Select the data range. Here, C5:C10.

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

  • Press  CTRL+1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.

You can use the Context Menu to go to the Format Cells command: select the data range >> Right-Click the data >> choose Format Cells.

You can use the Custom Ribbon:  select the data range >>in the Home tab >> go to Format >> choose Format Cells.

 

  • In the dialog box, select Number.
  • Choose Currency. Here, the dollar sign will be used for monetary values.
  • In Negative numbers:  >> choose a style. Here, the 2nd style.
  • Click OK to see the changes.

To keep the data as numbers only, use the Number format.

  • Go to Number.
  • In Negative numbers: >> choose a style.
  • Click OK.

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

This will be the output.

  • Select a different cell: C11, to keep the result.
  • Enter the formula in C11.
=SUM(C5:C10)

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

The SUM function will sum all the numbers in C5:C10.

  • Press ENTER.

This is the output.

Read More: How to Put a Negative Number in Excel Formula


Method 4 – Using a Generic Formula to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

Steps:

  • Select a cell to see the result. Here, C11.
  • Enter the formula in C11.
=C5+C6+C7+C8+C9+C10

 How to Add Negative Numbers in Excel

The Plus (+) sign was added to cell values.

  • Press ENTER.

This is the output.

Read More: How to Make a Group of Cells Negative in Excel


Things to Remember

  • When there are both positive and negative numbers and you want to add negative numbers only, use the SUMIF function (method 1).
  • When you have only negative numbers, use either method 2 or method 3.

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Musiha Mahfuza Mukta
Musiha Mahfuza Mukta

Musiha Mahfuza Mukta is a marine engineer who loves exploring Excel and VBA programming. To her, programming is a time-saving tool for dealing with data, files, and the internet. She's skilled in Rhino3D, Maxsurf, C++, MS Office, AutoCAD, and Excel & VBA, going beyond the basics. With a B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, she's shifted gears and now works as a content developer. In this role, she creates techy content exclusively focused on Excel... Read Full Bio

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