Blog · SUM

How to Use SUM in Google Sheets

Complete guide to the SUM function with syntax, examples, and tips.

What is SUM?

Returns the sum of a series of numbers and/or cells.

Syntax

SUM(value1, [value2, ...])

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Understand the arguments — SUM requires specific inputs. Review the syntax above and make sure you understand each argument.
2. Set up your data — Organize your data with clear headers and consistent formatting before applying the formula.
3. Write the formula — Start typing =SUM( in any cell and Google Sheets will show you the argument hints.
4. Test with sample data — Verify the output matches your expectations before applying to your full dataset.
5. Handle errors — Wrap in IFERROR() to gracefully handle edge cases: =IFERROR(SUM(...), "N/A")

Expert Tips

The most commonly used function. Can reference ranges, individual cells, or hard-coded numbers.

Related Functions

Check out our complete formula reference for more Google Sheets functions.

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