How to use the SUM Function and AUTOSUM in Microsoft Excel | Tutorial for Absolute Beginners

The SUM function is the most popular and widely-used function in Microsoft Excel, along with its automated version: AutoSum. When you click AutoSum, Excel automatically enters a formula (that uses the SUM function) to sum the numbers. In this video, I demonstrate the SUM function and show you a few tips that you may not know, even if you've used the SUM function for a while.

In this tutorial I demonstrate the various usages of SUM and AUTOSUM, using 4 example worksheets. The AutoSum function automatically figures out the range you need to SUM and applies the total automatically to it.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:32 AutoSum
1:15 No numbers in the header
2:23 Select cells and AutoSum
3:15 CTRL to AutoSum ranges
5:20 Chart with AutoSum

The keyboard shortcut for AutoSum is ALT + =

Chris Menard's blog post

Then we look at how to apply AutoSum for a range that has a number in the header row. That might throw off the AutoSum function to add the header row value as well. I show you how to circumvent that and exclude the header row from AutoSum by getting Excel to treat that cell as text.

Another example is to combine AutoSum with AutoFill. I demonstrate how you can AutoSum an entire spreadsheet, horizontally or vertically.

Finally, I demonstrate how you can create selections across multiple, non-adjacent number ranges and AutoSum everything automatically. Excel is smart enough to figure out that you have multiple ranges selected and AutoSum everything appropriately by taking into consideration the subtotals in your ranges.

Thanks for watching and let me know if you have questions about this video, and subscribe for more absolute beginner videos on Microsoft Excel in which I take each function and demonstrate it.

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[ReadySteadyExcel]

Really good video - deserves more views! I came across your channel when doing research on a different topic for my own channel. The layout of your website is good too.

[ARescueToaster]

Thanks for the video and help - it's greatly appreciated!

Is it impractical to have the sum BEFORE the columns of data rather than after? Auto sum doesn't appear to work like that, so I've resorted to setting a name for a range in the columns (IE: I select A3 through A200, name that selection "AColumn" and then, while in A2, I write in the function =SUM(AColumn)
It works but I feel there has to be an easier method than that! I'm also worried that in a year or two, when I get to A201 I'll start running into issues with incorrect totals and by then I'll have forgotten what I did 2 years prior

[shelbygallegos]

Is there a way to make an automatic scoreboard?
Example, like to have names on row 1 per column. And per name column as example, I would type entry in A2 score of 100, the another entry in A3 100 and auto sum for A4 populate 200 automatic. Entry for A5 and auto sum automatically in A6.

[lordgod]

Chris, you stated that you wouldn’t set up your file file this way. How would you set up your data? What’s the best way. I have a similar set of data that I want to analyze.

[ghostriders_]

At the moment when I select a series of numbers to auto sum they all change into the number in the top cell? Help!

[soumiamoujane]

What's the formula for totalling up Yearly shopping. Can I use autosum to total up a shopping list for the whole year?. For example can I type =SUM(D6:Z38 in Total box and click enter. And for monthly total do I use autosum by typing =( SUM(Z6:D38 in the total box and click enter

[johnbenedicts.santos]

hi im a student but i have a question how do you not go through the lines of the other cells?

[gmc]

Why does it just have when I hit the auto sum?