Applies To: Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel for the web, Excel 2024, Excel 2021, Excel 2019, Excel 2016
Instead of using a calculator, use Microsoft Excel to do the math! You can enter simple formulas to add, divide, multiply, and subtract two or more numeric values. Or use the AutoSum feature to quickly total a series of values without entering them manually in a formula. After you create a formula, you can copy it into adjacent cells — no need to create the same formula over and over again.
All formula entries begin with an equal sign (=). For simple formulas, simply type the equal sign followed by the numeric values that you want to calculate and the math operators that you want to use — the plus sign (+) to add, the minus sign (-) to subtract, the asterisk (*) to multiply, and the forward slash (/) to divide. Then, press ENTER, and Excel instantly calculates and displays the result of the formula.
For example, when you type =12.99+16.99 in cell C5 and press ENTER, Excel calculates the result and displays 29.98 in that cell. The formula that you enter in a cell remains visible in the formula bar, and you can see it whenever that cell is selected.
Important: Although there is a SUM function, there is no SUBTRACT function. Instead, use the minus (-) operator in a formula; for example, =8-3+2-4+12. Or, you can use a minus sign to convert a number to its negative value in the SUM function; for example, the formula =SUM(12,5,-3,8,-4) uses the SUM function to add 12, 5, subtract 3, add 8, and subtract 4, in that order.
The easiest way to add a SUM formula to your worksheet is to use AutoSum. Select an empty cell directly above or below the range that you want to sum, and on the Home or Formula tabs of the ribbon, click AutoSum > Sum. AutoSum will automatically sense the range to be summed and build the formula for you. This also works horizontally if you select a cell to the left or right of the range that you need to sum.
In a vertical example, if cells B2:B5 contain numbers, selecting B6 and using AutoSum will generate the formula: =SUM(B2:B5). You just press ENTER to confirm it. This feature does not work on non-contiguous ranges.
After you create a formula, you can copy it to other cells — no need to rewrite the same formula. You can either copy the formula, or use the fill handle to copy the formula to adjacent cells. When you copy the formula, ensure that the cell references are correct. Cell references may change if they have relative references.
| Calculator key | Excel method | Description, example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| + (Plus key) | + (plus) | Use in a formula to add numbers. Example: =4+6+2 |
12 |
| - (Minus key) | - (minus) | Use in a formula to subtract numbers or to signify a negative number. Example: =18-12. Example: =24*-5 (24 times negative 5) |
6. -120 |
| x (Multiply key) | * (asterisk; also called "star") | Use in a formula to multiply numbers. Example: =8*3 |
24 |
| ÷ (Divide key) | / (forward slash) | Use in a formula to divide one number by another. Example: =45/5 |
9 |
| % (Percent key) | % (percent) | Use in a formula with * to multiply by a percent. Example: =15%*20 |
3 |
| √ (square root) | SQRT (function) | Use the SQRT function in a formula to find the square root of a number. Example: =SQRT(64) |
8 |
| 1/x (reciprocal) | =1/n |
Use =1/n in a formula, where n is the number you want to divide 1 by. Example: =1/8 |
0.125 |