Beginner
5 min
Formulas & Functions
The SUM Function
The most-used function in Excel — add up a range of numbers in one step.
Compatibility: All Excel versions
What You'll Learn
- How SUM saves time over manually adding each cell
- How to sum a non-adjacent range using commas
- How to use the AutoSum shortcut (Alt+=)
Instead of writing =A1+A2+A3+A4+A5, the SUM function lets you total an entire range at once:
=SUM(A1:A5)
This adds every number from A1 through A5. You can also sum cells that aren't next to each other by separating them with commas:
=SUM(A1:A5,C1:C5)
A Fast Shortcut
Select a cell just below (or beside) a column of numbers and press Alt+= (AutoSum) — Excel will guess the range for you and insert the SUM formula automatically. It's usually right, but always double-check the range it selected before pressing Enter.
Common Mistakes
- Not double-checking the range AutoSum guesses, especially near blank rows
- Including a text or blank cell in the range by accident (SUM ignores text safely, but it is easy to select the wrong range)
Practice Exercise
Enter five numbers in cells A1 through A5. In A6, use SUM to total them. Then try Alt+= in a different cell to see AutoSum guess the range on its own.
Key Takeaways
- SUM(range) adds every number in that range
- Commas let you sum multiple, non-adjacent ranges
- Alt+= is the AutoSum shortcut