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Google Sheets SUM that ignores errors

Total a range containing errors without deleting the source rows.

PhilisWritten by PhilisPublished June 13, 2026Last updated July 25, 20269 min
SUM while ignoring errors — SheetSteps
QUICK ANSWER

Use =SUM(IFERROR(B2:B20,0)) to replace errors with zero inside the total. In older Sheets behavior, ARRAYFORMULA may be needed around IFERROR.

Before you sum a range that contains error cells, set up a clean source range and one result you can check by hand. That gives you a known answer before the sheet grows.

This article shows how to sum a range that contains error cells. The sample sheet uses ordinary rows so you can copy the method into an existing file without rebuilding everything.

SUM while ignoring errors spreadsheet used in this article
A working sheet built for this article. The numbers are sample data.
01
INSTRUCTIONS

Google Sheets SUM that ignores errors

  1. 01
    Make a safe copy

    Duplicate the source tab or file before changing formulas, ranges or formatting.

  2. 02
    Set up the source rows

    Add the fields needed to sum a range that contains error cells. Keep one record on each row and one field in each column.

  3. 03
    Add the method

    Enter =SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(IFERROR(B2:B20,0))) in a test cell and check its first result.

  4. 04
    Check a known case

    Pick one row whose answer you already know and compare it with the sheet result.

  5. 05
    Test the awkward rows

    Check blanks, zeros, repeated entries and one row that should not match.

  6. 06
    Apply it to the full range

    Copy the formula or rule only after the sample cases return the expected result.

02
FORMULAS

Set up the sheet for SUM while ignoring errors

Keep the source table rectangular. A single header row, no merged cells and consistent cell types make the work much easier to check.

Place settings, fixed rates or allowed labels on a separate tab. Name them clearly so another person can read the file without tracing every cell.

  • Count the error cells
  • Decide whether zero is a fair fallback
  • Keep an error audit beside the total
  • Repair source rows when possible
03
FORMULAS

Check the first result before copying it

A result that looks plausible can still be wrong. Work through one row manually, compare it with the Sheet and check every referenced cell.

Next, test a blank row and an unusual row. These two checks catch many range, type and copied-reference mistakes before they spread.

fx=SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(IFERROR(B2:B20,0)))
04
FORMULAS

Keep the file reliable as new rows arrive

Leave input columns visually separate from calculated columns. Protect formulas when several people edit the same file, and keep dropdown lists or settings outside the main table.

Add a short check near the result: row count, unmatched count, last refresh time or a manual spot check. The right check depends on the job, but it should make a bad update easy to notice.

05
COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions people ask

Does SUM ignore errors automatically?＋

No. One error inside the range can make the total return an error.

How do I count the errors too?＋

Use a helper column or an error check so the total and error count remain visible together.

Should errors count as zero?＋

Only when zero matches the business rule. A missing sale and a true zero sale are not always the same.

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