AutoSum is a handy feature in Excel that makes it simple to add up a series of numbers quickly.
When working with spreadsheets, you often need to calculate the sum of data in a particular row or column.
That’s where AutoSum comes into play. It automatically inserts a formula that uses the SUM function to add the numbers in the selected range.
Autosum Shortcut in Excel
Before I go on and show you how to use Autosum in Excel, let me first give you the shortcut to do Autosum:
Autosum shortcut for Windows:
Alt + =
Autosum shortcut for Mac:
⌘ + Shift + T
How to Use AutoSum in Excel (Examples)
Let’s now look at some examples of using AutoSum in Excel and see how it can make your Excel calculations more efficient.
AutoSum Values in a Column
Below, I have a dataset where I have the quarters in column A and the sales values in column B, and I want to calculate the total sales in B6.
I can use Excel’s AutoSum feature to calculate the total sales in B6.
To apply that, follow the below simple steps.
- Select the cell right under the column where you want to find the total. Here, it’s cell B6.
- Press the Alt + = keys together (hold the ALT key and then press the = key).
In the image above, you can see that Excel automatically enters the SUM function and selects all the cells with numbers above it for the function.
So, you can see =SUM(B2:B5) in cell B6.
- Press the “Enter” key.
Now, you’ll get the total sales in Cell B6.
You can apply AutoSum to more than one column at once. So if you select multiple columns and use the Autosum shortcut, it will automatically give you the sum for each column.
AutoSum Values in a Row
You can apply AutoSum for rows as well.
Below, I have a dataset where I have the quarters in Row 1 and the sales values in Row 2, and I want to calculate the total sales in F2.
I can use Excel’s AutoSum feature to calculate the total sales in F2.
To apply that, follow the below simple steps.
- Select the first blank cell of the row where you want to find the total. Here, it’s cell F2.
- Press the Alt + = keys together.
In the image above, you can see that Excel automatically enters the SUM function and selects all the cells with numbers on the left side for the function.
So, you can see =SUM(B2:E2) in cell F2.
- Press the “Enter” key.
Now, you’ll get the total sales in Cell F2.
You can apply AutoSum to more than one row at once. To do this, you need to select the range in which you want to get the sum of the rows, but you need to also select an additional column where the result would appear. If you don’t select this additional column, it would give you the sum of the columns instead.
Using AutoSum in a Table in Excel
When you’re working with a table in Excel, and you want to calculate totals for both rows and columns, you can easily do this using AutoSum.
Below, I have a table of sales values where quarters are given in rows and employee names are given in columns, and I want to calculate the total sales for all rows (quarter-wise) and columns (employee-wise).
I can use Excel’s AutoSum feature to calculate the total sales for all rows and columns.
To apply that, follow the below simple steps.
- Select the entire Table. You can select any cell of the table and press “Ctrl + A” to select the entire table.
- Press the Alt + = keys together.
Now, you’ll quickly get the total sales for all rows and columns.
AutoSum Multiple Tables in an Excel Sheet
If you have multiple tables in an Excel sheet and you want to calculate sums for both rows and columns in each table, you can easily do this using the Excel AutoSum feature.
Below, I have two tables of sales values for Team A and Team B.
In each table, quarters are given in rows, and employee names are given in columns. Now, I want to calculate the total sales for all rows and columns.
I can use Excel’s AutoSum feature to calculate the total sales for all rows and columns of all tables at once. To apply that, follow the below simple steps.
- Select all the tables. After you select one table, you have to hold the “Ctrl” key until you select the first cell of the other table.
- Press the Alt + = keys together.
Now, you’ll quickly get the total sales for all rows and columns for all the selected tables.
Also read: How to Sum a Column in Excel?
Common Issues and Solutions with AutoSum
Sometimes, when you’re using AutoSum in Excel, it might not work as expected.
Don’t worry; here are some common issues you may encounter and how to solve them.
Wrong Range
One possible issue is that AutoSum might be selecting the wrong range of cells to sum up.
To fix this, after clicking AutoSum, double-check the highlighted range and adjust it by dragging the selection borders as needed.
Make sure all the cells you want to include are within the selection before pressing Enter.
Missing Equal Sign
Another mistake you might make is forgetting to start your formula with an equal sign (=).
Without the equal sign, Excel won’t recognize it as a formula and won’t perform the calculation. So, always start your formulas with an equal sign.
Non-numeric Values
AutoSum might not work correctly if there are non-numeric values in the range of cells you’re trying to sum.
These values can include text, blank cells, or errors.
To resolve this, double-check your data and remove any non-numeric values or replace them with valid numbers.
Errors in Cells
If there are errors in the cells you’re trying to sum, AutoSum might not work properly.
These errors can occur for various reasons, such as incorrect formulas, data formatting issues, or broken links.
To fix this, identify the errors in the cells, correct the issues causing them, and then use AutoSum again.
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