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Excel Column Total

Article byJeevan A Y
Reviewed byDheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

Total Column in Excel

Usually, numbers are stored in rows of a single column, so getting the total of those columns is important. There are different ways of getting the total; as a beginner, it is important to know the concept of getting the column totals. In this article, we will show you how to get excel totals of columns in different ways.

How to Get Column Total in Excel (with Examples)

Here we’re going to show you how to get total columns in excel with a few examples.

You can download this Column Total Excel Template here – Column Total Excel Template

Example #1 – Get Temporary Excel Column Total in Single Click

Do you need a quick total of the column and see what the total of any column is, then this option will show a quick sum of numbers in the column.

  • For example, look at the below data in excel.
Column Total Example 1
  • In order to get the total of this column “B,” just select the entire column or the data range from B2 to B6, first select the entire column and see the “Status Bar.”
Column Total Example 1-1

As you can see in the status bar, we have a quick sum showing as 26356.

  • Now instead of selecting the entire column, select the only data range and see the result.
Column Total Example 1-2

The total is the same, but the only difference is the formatting of numbers. In the previous case, we have selected the entire column, and the formatting of numbers was not there, but this time, since we have selected only the numbers range in the quick sum too, we can see the same formatting of the selected range.

Example #2 – Get Auto Column Total in Excel

The temporary total can be just seen, but to make the totals permanently visible in a cell, we can use the autosum option. For example, in the above data, we have data till the 6th row, so in the 7th row, we need the total of the above column numbers.

  • Select the cell, which is just below the last data cell.
Auto Column Total 1
  • Now press the shortcut key “ALT + =” to insert the AUTOSUM option.
Auto Column Total 1-1
  • As you can see above, it has inserted the SUM function in excel automatically upon pressing the shortcut key “ALT + =” hit the enter key to get the column total.
Auto Column Total 1-2

Since we have selected only the data range, it has given us the same formatting of the selected cells.

  • However, there are certain limitations to this AUTOSUM function, especially when we work with a large number of cells. Now, look at the below data.
Auto Column Total 1-3
  • In the above data, we have data range till the 11th row, so in the 12th row, we need the column total, so select the cell B12.
Auto Column Total 1-4
  • Now press the shortcut key ALT + = sign to insert the quick SUM function.
Auto Column Total 1-5

Look at the limitation of the autosum function; it has selected only 4 cells above, and this is because, after the 4th cell, we have a blank cell, so the autosum shortcut thinks this will be the end of the data and returns only 4 cells summation.

In this case, this is a small sample size, but when the data is larger, it may go unnoticed. This is where we need to use the manually SUM function.

Example #3 – Get Excel Column Total by Using SUM Function Manually

  • Open SUM function in any of the cells other than the column of numbers.
Using SUM Function 1
  • For the SUM function, choose the entire column of “B.”
Using SUM Function 1-1
  • Close the bracket and hit the enter key to get the result.
Using SUM Function 1-2

So this will take the entire column into consideration and display results accordingly. Since the entire column has been selected, we need not worry about any missing cells.

Example #4 – Get Excel Column Total by Using SUBTOTAL Function

The SUBTOTAL function in excelSUBTOTAL Function In ExcelThe Excel Subtotal function is a built-in function that returns the subtotal of a given data table or data sets. This formula requires two inputs, the first of which is the function number and the second of which is the range.read more is very powerful to show only displayed cell results.

  • Open SUBTOTAL function first.
Using Subtotal Function 1
  • Upon opening the SUBTOTAL function, we have many kinds of calculation types; from the list, choose the 9-SUM function.
Using Subtotal Function 1-1
  • Next, choose the above range of cells.
Using Subtotal Function 1-2
  • Close the bracket and hit the enter key to get the result.
Using Subtotal Function 1-3

We have got the total of the column, but the question is the same was returned by the SUM function as well, then what is the point of using SUBTOTAL.

  • The special thing is SUBTOTAL displays the calculation only for visible cells; for example, apply filter and choose only any of the three months.
Using Subtotal Function 1-4
  • I have chosen only “Aug, Jun, and May” months. Click on “Ok” and see the result.
Using Subtotal Function 1-5

The result of a SUBTOTAL function is limited to only visible cells, not the entire range of cells, so this is the specialty of SUBTOTAL function.

Things to Remember

  • AUTOSUM takes the only reference of non-empty cells, and at the finding of empty cells, it will stop its reference.
  • If any minus value is there in between, all those values will be deducted, and the end result is exactly the same as the mathematical rule.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Excel Column Total. Here we learn how to get a column total in excel by using sum and subtotal function along with examples and a downloadable excel template. You may learn more about excel from the following articles –

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