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This wikiHow teaches you how to use the SUM function to add two cells containing other SUM formulas in Microsoft Excel. If you get an error when trying to add your two cells, it's usually because one of your original formulas contains additional characters or multiple functions. You can fix this by placing such formulas inside the =VALUE() function. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
Steps
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Open your spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. To do this, double-click the Excel document that contains your data in Finder (Macs) or File Explorer (Windows). Alternatively, if you already have Excel open, click File > Open and select the file that has the data you want to add.
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Add =VALUE around the formulas in the cells you're adding together. If the cells you're adding together use formulas that contain non-numeric characters, then you'll need to add =VALUE at the start of those formulas in order to use the SUM function. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- If either of the cells you're adding contains anything other than the standard =SUM() formula, you'll have to enclose that whole formula within the parentheses of the =VALUE() function to avoid errors. Do the following in each of the cell you're adding:
- Double-click the cell containing the formula.
- If the formula is standard, such as =SUM(A1:A15) , you don't have to make any changes. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- If the cell contains other functions (such as IF or AVERAGE ), letters, or quotes, enclose the formula within the parentheses of the =VALUE() function.
- For example, =SUM(AVERAGE(A1:A15),AVERAGE(B1:B15)) would become =VALUE(SUM(AVERAGE(A1:A15),AVERAGE(B1:B15) )) .
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Click an empty cell. This is where you'll enter the formula that adds the other two cells together.
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Enter the SUM formula. Type =SUM() into your selected cell.
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Enter the names of the cells that contain the sums you want to add. You'll enter these two cell names (e.g., A4 and B4 ) inside the parentheses, separated by a comma. [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- For example, if you're adding the values of cells A4 and B4, your formula should look like this: =SUM(A4,B4)
- If you're adding a range of cells, like an entire column, enter =SUM(A4:24) . You can also add multiple rows or columns to your equation, like =SUM(A4:24, C2:C10) [5] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return . This adds the values of the two cells and displays the sum.
- If the value of either of the two added cells changes, the result of your new formula will also.
- You can update all formulas on the sheet by pressing F9 .
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI need to add an entire column of cells containing formulas, not just 2. Can't make it work. How do I do this?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIf you're adding a range of cells, like an entire column, enter "=SUM(A4:24)" .
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QuestionHow do you add a column of numbers (numbers derived by multiplying 2 cells) ex: cells A1 x A2, A1 x A3... all the way to A1 x A37. The total would show on A38.This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIf you're adding a range of cells, like an entire column, enter "=SUM(A4:24)" .
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QuestionHi. I'm trying to sum several cells that contain sums of other cells. I do as the example, but I get an error message saying the formula is wrong.This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerAdd =VALUE around the formulas in the cells you're adding together. If the cells you're adding together use formulas that contain non-numeric characters, then you'll need to add =VALUE at the start of those formulas. If either of the cells you're adding contains anything other than the standard =SUM() formula, you'll have to enclose that whole formula within the parentheses of the =VALUE() function to avoid errors. Do the following in each of the cell you're adding:[1] Double-click the cell containing the formula. If the formula is standard, such as =SUM(A1:A15), you don't have to make any changes. If the cell contains other functions (such as IF or AVERAGE), letters, or quotes, enclose the formula within the parentheses of the =VALUE() function. For example, =SUM(AVERAGE(A1:A15),AVERAGE(B1:B15)) would become =VALUE(SUM(AVERAGE(A1:A15),AVERAGE(B1:B15) )).
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Tips
- This process will also work for other formulas (e.g., adding together two cells containing multiplication products).Thanks
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Warnings
- Remember to save your changes before exiting Excel.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/value-function-257d0108-07dc-437d-ae1c-bc2d3953d8c2
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/value-function-257d0108-07dc-437d-ae1c-bc2d3953d8c2
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sum-function-043e1c7d-7726-4e80-8f32-07b23e057f89
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sum-function-043e1c7d-7726-4e80-8f32-07b23e057f89
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sum-function-043e1c7d-7726-4e80-8f32-07b23e057f89
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Fix any issues with the original formulas.
2. Click an empty cell.
3. Type =SUM()
.
4. Type the cells between the parentheses separated by commas.
5. Press Enter
or Return
.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 173,780 times.
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