Excel SUM function
Adds numbers, cells and ranges. It is Excel’s most used function. In Spanish Excel it is called SUMA.
Syntax
English Excel
=SUM(number1, [number2], …)
Spanish Excel (Mexico)
=SUMA(número1, [número2], …)
Spanish Excel (Spain, Latin America)
=SUMA(número1; [número2]; …)
| Argument | What it is |
|---|---|
| number1 | The first number, cell or range to add. |
| number2optional | More numbers or ranges, up to 255. |
Example
SUM adds up a range of cells. A range is written with a colon: B2:B7 means "from B2 to B7". You can also add separate cells, split by the argument separator: "," in English Excel, ";" in Spanish Excel in Spain and much of Latin America.
=SUM(B2:B7)
Common mistake
Numbers stored as text (left-aligned) are not added. Convert them to numbers first.
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Practice SUM
Type the formula in the sheet and check it instantly. Spanish or English function names both work. See all lessons
SUM
SUM adds up a range of cells. A range is written with a colon: B2:B7 means "from B2 to B7". You can also add separate cells, split by the argument separator: "," in English Excel, ";" in Spanish Excel in Spain and much of Latin America.
In B8, calculate the month’s total spending with SUM.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expense | Amount | |
| 2 | Rent | 8,500 | |
| 3 | Electricity | 650 | |
| 4 | Internet | 499 | |
| 5 | Groceries | 3,200 | |
| 6 | Transport | 1,200 | |
| 7 | Phone | 349 | |
| 8 | Total | ||
| 9 |
Tip: while typing, click a cell or drag across several to insert their reference.
Frequently asked questions
- What is SUM called in Spanish?
- In Spanish Excel it is SUMA. The formula =SUM(B2:B7) is written =SUMA(B2:B7) (or with commas in Mexico).
- Why does SUM use semicolons in some Excel versions?
- It depends on regional settings. Where the comma is the decimal mark (Spain, much of South America), Excel separates arguments with semicolons. English Excel and Mexican Spanish Excel use commas.
- What is the most common SUM mistake?
- Numbers stored as text (left-aligned) are not added. Convert them to numbers first.