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How to sum in Google Sheets

Add a row, a column or selected cells and keep the total accurate as entries are added.

JosephineWritten by JosephinePublished June 16, 2026Last updated July 24, 202611 min
Sum in Google Sheets — SheetSteps
QUICK ANSWER

Use =SUM(B2:B20) for one range. Use separate range arguments for non-adjacent cells, and avoid including the total cell inside its own range.

Before you total a range without circular references, 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 total a range without circular references. The sample sheet uses ordinary rows so you can copy the method into an existing file without rebuilding everything.

Sum in Google Sheets spreadsheet used in this article
A working sheet built for this article. The numbers are sample data.
01
INSTRUCTIONS

How to sum in Google Sheets

  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 total a range without circular references. Keep one record on each row and one field in each column.

  3. 03
    Add the method

    Enter =SUM(B2:B5) 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 in Google Sheets

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.

  • Exclude the total cell from its range
  • Check text-formatted numbers
  • Use full-column ranges carefully
  • Compare against a manual sample
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(B2:B5)
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

What is the sum formula in Google Sheets?＋

Use =SUM(range), for example =SUM(B2:B20).

How do I add separate cells?＋

Use =SUM(B2,D2,F2) or add the cells with plus signs.

Why does SUM return zero?＋

The entries may be stored as text. Convert them to numbers and check for leading apostrophes.

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