How to Sum Columns in Excel – 7 Methods

The following dataset represents the order summary of 6 products.

To show details of the orders throughout the year:

Sum Columns in Excel Dataset


Method 1 – Getting the Sum of a Column in Excel with One Click

  • Select a Whole Column: Click the letter of the column. The Excel status bar will show the sum along with the cells count.

Sum Columns in Excel One Click

  • Selected Cells of a Column: select cells and the status bar will show the value of the summed data.

Sum Colums in Excel

Here, E8:E11 was selected to get the total for pencils during Sep-Dec.


Method 2 – Using the AutoSum Command to Sum Columns in Excel

  • Select the empty cell below the cells you want to add.
  • In the Home tab, click AutoSum in Editing.

  • Excel return the result of the SUM function.

sum Columns in Excel using Autosum

  • Press Enter key to see the column total in C11.

Sum of Columns in Excel


Method 3 – Calculating the Total by Entering the SUM Function Manually

  • Select a cell to see the summed value and enter the SUM function.

  • Select C5:C10.

Sum of Columns in Excel

  • Press Enter key to see the result.


Method 4 – Transforming Data into an Excel Table to Sum Columns

  • Select the dataset.
  • In the Insert tab, choose Table.

  • Click OK in Create Table. This will turn the dataset into an Excel table.

  • Go to Design and check Total Row.

Sum of Columns in Excel using Table

  • The sum is displayed in E11.

Sum of Columns in Excel

  • To get the totals for the other columns (Jan-Apr and May-Aug), Drag the Fill Handle to the left.

  • This is the output.

Sum of Columns in Excel


Method 5 – Adding a Column Based on Criteria

Sum orders greater than 100 in the three periods of time:

  • Select a cell to see the summed value and enter the function.
=SUMIF(C5:C10,">100",C5:C10)
  • Press Enter.

Sum of Columns in Excel Using Criteria

  • 560 is the sum of 125, 325, and 110.

Sum of Columns in Excel Using Criteria

  • Use the Fill Handle to see the result in the other cells.


Method 6 – Calculating the Subtotal of Filtered Cells 

To get the total of visible data only:

  • Select the columns to filter.
  • In the Data tab select Filter.

Sum of FIiltered Columns in Excel

  • A filter arrow will be displayed.

Sum of FIiltered Columns in Excel

  • Click the arrow and choose pens (Black, Red, and Blu).

Sum of FIiltered Columns in Excel

  • The dataset is filtered.

Sum of FIiltered Columns in Excel

  • Use the AutoSum to calculate totals for the columns.


Method 7 – Finding the Running Total of an Excel Column

  • In the first cell of the Running Column of Jan-Apr column, enter the following formula
=SUM(C$5:C5)

  • Drag down the Fill Handle to the bottom of the column.

Running Sum of Columns in Excel

This is the output.


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Download the practice workbook.


How to Sum Columns in Excel: Knowledge Hub


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Al Arafat Siddique
Al Arafat Siddique

Al Arafat Siddique, BSc, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, has worked on the ExcelDemy project for two years. He has written over 85+ articles for ExcelDemy. Currently, he is working as a software developer. He is leading a team of six members to develop Microsoft Office Add-ins, extending Office applications to interact with office documents. Other assigned projects to his team include creating AI-based products and online conversion tools using the latest... Read Full Bio

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