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SUM Function How-to Guides for Excel - Step-by-Step Tutorials

Master Excel SUM function with practical, step-by-step tutorials covering every scenario - from basic column sums and row additions to advanced multi-sheet consolidation, running totals, and conditional summing. Learn how to sum columns, rows, multiple ranges, visible cells only, and create dynamic cumulative calculations that update automatically.

📖Master Excel SUM with Step-by-Step Tutorials

Whether you're calculating quarterly sales reports, consolidating budget data across multiple departments, or creating financial dashboards for executives, these comprehensive SUM function tutorials cover every real-world Excel scenario. Each how-to guide includes downloadable Excel templates with working examples, practical examples from actual business cases in finance and accounting, and troubleshooting tips to handle edge cases like hidden rows, filtered data, and multi-sheet workbooks.

From basic column sums that every Excel user needs for daily spreadsheet work, to advanced multi-sheet consolidation techniques used by financial analysts and data professionals, you'll find practical Excel SUM solutions that save hours of manual calculation work and reduce errors. Every tutorial is optimized for both Excel desktop and Excel Online, ensuring compatibility across all platforms and versions including Microsoft 365.

These step-by-step SUM tutorials are organized by difficulty level, starting with foundational techniques for Excel beginners and progressing to expert-level formulas for power users. Whether you need to sum values conditionally, create running totals for inventory tracking, or consolidate data from multiple worksheets into a master summary, our guides provide clear instructions with screenshots and downloadable practice files to help you master each technique quickly and effectively.

Most Popular Excel SUM Function Tutorials This Month

🥇 Sum a Column

Perfect for beginners learning Excel basics and fundamental spreadsheet skills. Master vertical data summation with simple SUM formulas that work every time for sales reports, expense tracking, and financial statements.

🥈 Sum Multiple Sheets

Solve the common Excel challenge of consolidating monthly reports across multiple worksheets in a single workbook. Essential technique for creating quarterly and annual summaries that combine data from January through December tabs.

🥉 Running Total

Critical Excel formula technique for tracking cumulative sales performance, inventory levels over time, or project progress with running balances. Learn how to create dynamic cumulative sums that update automatically.

🎓Recommended Learning Path for Excel SUM Function Mastery

Follow this proven progression to build solid Excel SUM Function skills:

  1. Level 1 - Foundations: Start with "Sum a Column" and "Sum a Row" to understand basic range selection and Excel formula syntax. These foundational SUM tutorials are essential building blocks for all Excel calculations including budgets, reports, and data analysis.
  2. Level 2 - Expansion: Progress to "Sum Multiple Columns" and "Sum Entire Column Except Header" for working with broader data ranges and creating dynamic formulas that adapt to changing datasets automatically.
  3. Level 3 - Advanced: Master "Sum Across Multiple Sheets" for multi-workbook consolidation of department data and "Running Total" for cumulative calculations used in financial dashboards and performance tracking.
  4. Level 4 - Expert: Tackle "Sum Top 5 Values" for ranking analysis, "Sum Only Visible Cells" for filtered report totals, and "Sum Every Nth Row" for specialized data analysis scenarios in business intelligence.

Each guide builds on previous concepts, ensuring comprehensive understanding of Excel SUM Function capabilities for professional use.

Filter by difficulty:

Beginner (4)
Intermediate (5)
Advanced (3)
How to Sum a Column in Excel

Add all numbers in a single column from top to bottom

Beginner
2 min
8.1K/mo
How to Sum Multiple Columns at Once

Add values from several non-adjacent columns in one formula

Beginner
3 min
2.4K/mo
How to Sum a Row in Excel

Add all numbers in a single row from left to right

Beginner
2 min
3.2K/mo
How to Sum Across Multiple Sheets

Consolidate the same cell range from different worksheets

Intermediate
5 min
1.8K/mo
How to Create a Running Total

Calculate cumulative sum that grows row by row

Intermediate
4 min
1.2K/mo
How to Sum Only Visible Cells

Exclude hidden or filtered rows from your total

Advanced
6 min
890/mo
How to Sum with Multiple Criteria

Add numbers that meet several conditions using SUMIFS

Intermediate
5 min
2.1K/mo
How to Sum Top 5 Values

Calculate total of the highest values in a range

Advanced
7 min
650/mo
How to Sum Entire Column Except Header

Use dynamic range that skips the first row

Beginner
3 min
1.5K/mo
How to Sum Time Values

Add hours, minutes, and seconds correctly in Excel

Intermediate
5 min
1.1K/mo
How to Sum Positive Numbers Only

Exclude negative values from your calculation

Intermediate
4 min
780/mo
How to Sum Every Nth Row

Add values at regular intervals (every 2nd, 3rd, 5th row)

Advanced
8 min
420/mo

📚 More Guides Coming Soon

We're constantly adding new tutorials based on your most-searched SUM Function questions.

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