How to Calculate Projected Cost in Excel (4 Effective Ways)

Method 1 – Using Conventional Formula

We mentioned the cost of 6 months of 2021 in the range of cells D5:D10. We considered a projection of a 20% cost increase for the following months of the next year 2022. The value of the projection rate is in cell G5.

Steps:

• Select cell E5.
• Write down the following formula into the cell. Make sure that you input the Absolute Cell Reference with cell G5.

• Press Enter.

• Double-click the Fill Handle icon to copy the formula up to cell E10.

• Get all the projected cost values for each month.

Our formula worked perfectly, and we were able to calculate the projected cost in Excel.

Method 2 – Use of FORECAST.LINEAR Function

The cost of the first six months is in the range of cells D5:D10. Calculate the projected cost value for the next three months of that year in the range of cell E11:E13.

Steps:

• Select cell E11.
• Write down the following formula into the cell to input the Absolute Cell Reference for the range of cells C5:C10 and D5:D10.

• Press Enter.

• Double-click on the Fill Handle icon to copy the formula up to cell E13.
• Get all the projected cost value for our desired three months.

Our formula worked successfully and we can calculate the projected cost in Excel.

Method 3 – Applying TREND Function

The cost of the first six months is in the range of cells D5:D10 to calculate the projected cost for the next three months of that year in the range of cell E11:E13.

Steps:

• Select cell E11.
• Write down the following formula in the cell. Input the Absolute Cell Reference for the range of cells C5:C10 and D5:D10.

• Press Enter.

• Double-click the Fill Handle icon to copy the formula up to cell E13.
• You will get the projected cost value for our desired three months.

We were able to calculate the projected cost in Excel.

Method 4 – Using Forecast Sheet Command

This command provides us a maximum and minimum range of those projected values. In addition, this option will also supply us with a chart for understanding the data trend.

Steps:

• Select the range of cells B5:D13.
• In the Data tab, select the Forecast Sheet option from the Forecast group.

• A dialog box called Create Forecast Worksheet will appear.
• Set the Forecast End at 9, if the value is showing less than 9.
• Choose the chart type as a line chart.
• Click Create.

• A new sheet will open with the chart and the projected values.
• You may notice that the X-axis of our chart is showing the month sequence instead of the month’s names.

• Go to the Chart Design tab and select the Select Data option.

• The Select Data Source dialog box will appear. Click Edit from the Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels section.

• A dialog box entitled Axis Labels will appear.
• Select the range of cells B5:B13 from the sheet titled Forecast Sheet and click OK.

• Press OK to close the Select Data Source dialog box. You will see the month’s name will appear on the X-axis.

• You can also modify the chart style from the Chart Design and Format ribbon.
• We chose Style 6 from the Chart Styles group.
• Select the Chart Elements icon and check the Axes and Legend at the Top option.

• To visualize the data changing pattern more precisely, we reduced the lower boundary of the Y-axis of our chart. Double-click on the values of the Y-axis.
• A side window called Format Axis will appear.
• Click the drop-down arrow of the Axis Options and go to the Axis Options tab.
• Set the Minimum bound as 2000 and press Enter. The class intervals in the Y-axis below 2000 will disappear and the data pattern will show in a large view.

• The task for this chart is completed.

• Add a column chat from the Create Forecast Worksheet dialog box. You won’t get the upper and lower projected cost range.
• Choose Column Chart.

• The projected cost value and the chart will appear on another new sheet. You can modify the chart style according to your preference.

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