Excel Formulas Cheat Sheet

Master Excel with our comprehensive formulas reference guide. From basic math to advanced lookup functions, find syntax, examples, and expert tips for all essential Excel formulas.

Found 8 formulas matching "SUM"

Excel Mastery Guide

Beginner

Start with basic calculations and data organization

Intermediate

Master lookup functions and data analysis

Advanced

Advanced functions and financial modeling

  • • INDEX-MATCH combinations
  • • Array formulas
  • • Financial functions (PV, FV, PMT)
  • • Statistical analysis

📊 What is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is the world's most popular spreadsheet application, developed by Microsoft and first released in 1985. Excel revolutionized data analysis, financial modeling, and business calculations by providing a powerful yet user-friendly interface for organizing, calculating, and analyzing data. With over 750 million users worldwide, Excel has become an essential tool for professionals across every industry, from accountants and analysts to scientists and entrepreneurs.

🚀 Core Capabilities

  • ✓ Data organization: Create structured tables, databases, and lists
  • ✓ Formula calculations: 400+ built-in functions for complex calculations
  • ✓ Data visualization: Charts, graphs, and conditional formatting
  • ✓ Data analysis: PivotTables, statistical analysis, and modeling
  • ✓ Automation: Macros and VBA programming for repetitive tasks
  • ✓ Collaboration: Real-time sharing and co-authoring features

💼 Who Uses Excel?

  • • Finance professionals: Financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting
  • • Data analysts: Statistical analysis, trend identification
  • • Business managers: Reporting, planning, performance tracking
  • • Researchers: Data collection, analysis, and visualization
  • • Students: Academic projects, research, and learning
  • • Small business owners: Inventory, sales tracking, bookkeeping

🏢 Industry Applications

Financial Services

Risk analysis, portfolio management, loan calculations, investment modeling, financial reporting

Healthcare & Research

Clinical data analysis, patient tracking, research statistics, medical billing, lab results

Education & Training

Grade tracking, student performance analysis, curriculum planning, educational research

⚡ Excel Formula Power

Formula Categories

  • • Math & Statistics: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, STDEV
  • • Logical: IF, AND, OR, NOT
  • • Text: CONCATENATE, LEFT, RIGHT, MID
  • • Date & Time: TODAY, NOW, DATEDIF
  • • Lookup: VLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH

Formula Benefits

  • • Automation: Calculate complex results instantly
  • • Accuracy: Eliminate manual calculation errors
  • • Efficiency: Process thousands of data points
  • • Dynamic: Update automatically when data changes
  • • Scalability: Handle growing datasets seamlessly

🛠️ Excel Components

📋 Worksheets

Grid-based interface with rows, columns, and cells for data entry

🧮 Formulas

Mathematical expressions that calculate values automatically

📊 Charts

Visual representations of data in various graph formats

🔧 Functions

Pre-built formulas for specific calculations and operations

🎯 Excel vs. Alternatives

Excel Advantages

  • • Industry standard with universal compatibility
  • • Comprehensive feature set for all skill levels
  • • Extensive formula library (400+ functions)
  • • Advanced visualization and PivotTable capabilities
  • • VBA programming for custom solutions
  • • Seamless integration with Microsoft Office

Popular Alternatives

  • • Google Sheets: Cloud-based, free, real-time collaboration
  • • LibreOffice Calc: Open-source, free alternative
  • • Apple Numbers: Mac-native, design-focused
  • • Airtable: Database-spreadsheet hybrid
  • • Notion: All-in-one workspace with table features

🚀 Getting Started with Excel

1. Learn the Interface

Familiarize yourself with the ribbon, worksheets, cells, and formula bar • Practice basic navigation and data entry

2. Master Basic Formulas

Start with SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT • Learn cell references (A1, $A$1) • Practice IF statements and basic logic

3. Explore Advanced Features

Learn VLOOKUP, PivotTables, and data visualization • Practice with real datasets • Gradually build complexity

Excel Mastery Tip: The key to Excel expertise is practice and progressive learning. Start with basic formulas, build confidence, then gradually tackle more complex functions. This cheat sheet is your roadmap to Excel formula mastery! 📈

Excel Pro Tips

F4 Key: Toggle between absolute and relative references ($A$1, A$1, $A1, A1)

Ctrl + Shift + Enter: Enter array formulas (older Excel versions)

F9 Key: Calculate formulas manually when set to manual calculation mode

Ctrl + `: Toggle between formula view and result view

SUMIF()

Math & Statistical

Sums cells that meet a criteria

Syntax:

=SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])

Examples:

=SUMIF(A1:A10, ">100")

Sum values greater than 100

=SUMIF(A1:A10, "Apple", B1:B10)

Sum B values where A contains 'Apple'

=SUMIF(A1:A10, A12, B1:B10)

Sum B values where A equals value in A12

Note: If sum_range is omitted, range is used for both criteria and sum

SUMIFS()

Math & Statistical

Sums cells that meet multiple criteria

Syntax:

=SUMIFS(sum_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, [criteria_range2, criteria2], ...)

Examples:

=SUMIFS(C1:C10, A1:A10, "Apple", B1:B10, ">100")

Sum C where A='Apple' AND B>100

=SUMIFS(D1:D10, A1:A10, ">=" & DATE(2024,1,1), A1:A10, "<" & DATE(2025,1,1))

Sum D for dates in 2024

=SUMIFS(C1:C10, A1:A10, "North", B1:B10, "Q1")

Sum for North region in Q1

Note: All criteria must be met for a cell to be included in sum

SUM()

Math & Statistical

Adds all numbers in a range

Syntax:

=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

Examples:

=SUM(A1:A10)

Sum all values in range A1 to A10

=SUM(A1, B1, C1)

Sum specific cells

=SUM(A1:A5, C1:C5)

Sum multiple ranges

Note: Ignores text values and empty cells

OFFSET()

Lookup & Reference

Returns reference offset from starting reference

Syntax:

=OFFSET(reference, rows, cols, [height], [width])

Examples:

=OFFSET(A1, 2, 3)

Reference 2 rows down, 3 columns right from A1

=SUM(OFFSET(A1, 0, 0, 5, 1))

Sum 5 cells starting from A1

=OFFSET(A1, 0, 0, COUNTA(A:A), 1)

Dynamic range from A1 to last data

Note: Creates dynamic references. Often used with named ranges

SUBTOTAL()

Math & Statistical

Returns a subtotal in a list or database using specified function

Syntax:

=SUBTOTAL(function_num, ref1, [ref2], ...)

Examples:

=SUBTOTAL(9, A1:A10)

Sum of visible cells (function 9)

=SUBTOTAL(1, A1:A10)

Average of visible cells (function 1)

=SUBTOTAL(109, A1:A10)

Sum ignoring hidden rows and filtered data

Note: Functions 1-11 include hidden cells, 101-111 ignore hidden cells

FORMULATEXT()

Lookup & Reference

Returns formula in a cell as text

Syntax:

=FORMULATEXT(reference)

Examples:

=FORMULATEXT(A1)

Shows formula in A1 as text

=FORMULATEXT(SUM(B1:B10))

Returns error (not a reference)

=IF(FORMULATEXT(A1)="", A1, FORMULATEXT(A1))

Show value or formula

Note: Returns #N/A if cell doesn't contain formula. Available in Excel 2013+

ISNUMBER()

Information Functions

Tests if value is a number

Syntax:

=ISNUMBER(value)

Examples:

=ISNUMBER(A1)

TRUE if A1 contains a number

=IF(ISNUMBER(A1), A1*2, "Not a number")

Multiply by 2 if number

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ISNUMBER(A1:A10)))

Count numeric cells

Note: Dates are considered numbers in Excel

STDEV()

Statistical Functions

Calculates standard deviation of sample

Syntax:

=STDEV(number1, [number2], ...)

Examples:

=STDEV(A1:A10)

Standard deviation of sample data

=STDEV.S(A1:A10)

Sample standard deviation (newer versions)

=STDEV.P(A1:A10)

Population standard deviation

Note: STDEV assumes sample data, use STDEV.P for population

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📊 102 Total Formulas 🏷️ 10 Categories ⚡ Quick Search