How to Add Cells Together in Excel

Microsoft Excel is the go-to spreadsheet application for business owners, analysts and data scientists. One of the essential functions of Excel is its ability to perform simple arithmetic calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. If you’re new to Excel or need a refresher, adding cells in Excel might seem daunting at first. But fear not, because in this post, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to add cells in Excel. By the end of this post, you’ll be able to add cells in Excel with ease.

Step 1: Open a New or Existing Workbook

The first step in adding cells together in Excel is to open a new or existing workbook. You can do this by clicking on the “File” tab in the top left-hand corner of the Excel window and selecting “New” to create a new workbook. Alternatively, you can open an existing workbook by clicking on “Open” and selecting the workbook you want to work on from the list that appears.

Step 2: Enter Your Data

Next, enter your data into the worksheet. You can enter numbers, text, dates, or formulas into any of the cells in the worksheet.

Step 3: Select the Cells You Want to Add

Now that your data is entered, select the cells you want to add together. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the cells you want to add. Alternatively, you can hold down the “Shift” key on your keyboard and click on each cell you want to include in the addition.

Step 4: Use AutoSum to Add the Cells

Once you have selected the cells you want to add, the easiest way to add them together is to use the AutoSum function. To do this, click on the “Formulas” tab in the top menu, and then click on the “AutoSum” button.

Step 4a: Using the AutoSum Shortcut

If you prefer, you can also use the AutoSum shortcut. To do this, simply click on the cell where you want the sum to appear, and then press the “Alt” and “=” buttons on your keyboard at the same time.

Step 5: Check Your Answer

After using the AutoSum function to add your cells together, you should check your answer to make sure it is correct. Simply add up the cells manually, and compare your answer to the AutoSum answer. If they match, then you’ve successfully added cells together in Excel.

Conclusion

Adding cells together in Excel is a straightforward process using the AutoSum function. By following the steps we’ve outlined in this post, you can quickly and easily add cells together in Excel to help you analyze and better understand your data.

Using the Function Bar to Add Cells

An alternative way to add cells in Excel is to use the function bar. Simply click on the cell where you want the sum to appear, then type “=sum(” followed by the cells you want to add together, separated by commas, and finally close the parentheses. For example, if you want to add cells A2, A3, and A4, you would type “=sum(A2, A3, A4)” in the function bar. Press Enter, and voila! Your sum will appear in the selected cell.

Adding Cells Across Multiple Worksheets

If you have multiple worksheets that contain data you want to add together, you can use the “SUM” function. First, select the cell where you want the sum to appear. Then type “=SUM(” and click on the worksheet tab that contains the first set of cells you want to add. Select the cells you want to add together, then press the “Shift” key on your keyboard and click on the worksheet tab that contains the next set of cells you want to add, and so on. Close the parentheses and press Enter to see the sum of all the selected cells.

Using Conditional Formatting to Highlight Summed Cells

You can use the conditional formatting feature in Excel to highlight cells that have been summed. This can be helpful if you’re working with large datasets and need to quickly identify cells that contain sums. To do this, select the cells you want to format, click on the “Home” tab in the top menu, and click on “Conditional Formatting.” Select “New Rule,” then “Format only cells that contain,” and choose “Cell Value” from the first drop-down menu. Change the second drop-down menu to “equal to,” enter “0” in the box, and select a background color for the highlighted cells. Click “OK” to apply the formatting to the selected cells. Now any cells that contain a sum value will be highlighted in the chosen color.

Conclusion

Adding cells together in Excel is a fundamental calculation that helps you make sense of your data quickly. Whether you use the AutoSum function, the function bar, or the SUM function to add cells, Excel provides you with a range of choices to suit your needs. By following the steps outlined in this post and using the additional tips provided, you can be on your way to becoming an Excel expert in no time.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about adding cells together in Excel:

1. Can I add cells that contain text?

No, you cannot add cells that contain text using the AutoSum function or the SUM function. Instead, you will need to manually add the values together or use a formula like CONCATENATE to combine the text in multiple cells.

2. Can I use the AutoSum function to add cells diagonally?

No, the AutoSum function can only add cells vertically or horizontally. If you want to add cells diagonally, you will need to use a formula like SUMPRODUCT or SUMIF.

3. Can I add cells together from different worksheets?

Yes, you can add cells from different worksheets using the SUM function and selecting the cells you want to add across multiple worksheets.

4. Can I continue adding more cells with the AutoSum function after I have gotten my initial sum?

Yes, you can. Simply click on the cell where you want the next sum to appear and press the “AutoSum” button again. Excel will automatically select the adjacent cells from the original sum.

5. Is there a shortcut to select all the cells in a row or column for adding?

Yes, there is a shortcut to select all the cells in a row or column. If you want to add all the cells in a row, select a cell in the row and press “Shift + Spacebar.” If you want to add all the cells in a column, select a cell in the column and press “Ctrl + Spacebar”.