How do I write a formula in Excel to add up a column?

To add up a column in Excel, you use the SUM function. It is quick, reliable, and handles any number of cells.

Here is how to do it:

1. The Standard Way

Click the cell where you want the total to appear (usually right at the bottom of your column of numbers). Type this:

=SUM(A1:A10)

(Replace A1 and A10 with the first and last cell addresses of the column you want to add.)

2. The "AutoSum" Shortcut (Fastest)

If you want to save time, Excel can do this for you automatically:

• Click the empty cell directly below your column of numbers.
• On the Home tab at the top of your screen, look for the AutoSum button (it looks like a Greek Sigma symbol: Σ).
• Click AutoSum, and Excel will automatically guess which cells you want to add.
• Press Enter to confirm.

3. Adding an Entire Column

If you want to add every single number in an entire column (like column A), you can use this:

=SUM(A:A)

Excel will then add everything currently in that column, even if you add more rows of data to it later.

A quick tip: If you ever see #NAME? in the cell, it usually means there is a typo in the word SUM. If you see 0, make sure the cells you are selecting actually contain numbers and not "text" formatted as numbers.