How do you use Numbers to sum a column?

One of the easiest ways to get a sum doesn't require typing in the formula.

Just click in a cell below the numbers you want to sum and choose Insert > Formula > Sum from the menu.

Or, even easier, choose the equivalent from the Toolbar.

Or select the cells to be summed and drag the token at the bottom into a cell. That will also create the formula with no typing needed.

Generally it's best to create the sum in a Footer Row.

SG

Hi Tom,

Similar to what VikingOSX has said, but adding a Footer row and taking advantage of one of its features.

If you want to sum a whole column (excluding only the header row(s) and a Footer row containing the total, this is also possible.

Row 1 of the table below is a Header row.

One or more Header rows is provided automatically by many of the Numbers Templates provided.

Row 14 of the table is a Footer row.

Very few of the supplied templates include one or more Footer rows, so in most cases you will need to add them yourself, using the local menu opened by clicking the wide v that appears when you hover the pointer between the row reference tab for the last row on the table, then click the Add Footer Row Below or the Convert to Footer Row option in the local menu. (The row in the image has already been converted to a Footer row, so the menu does not show the 'convert' option.)

With the last row defined as a Footer row, the formula shown below the table can be placed in that row to sum the values in all cells of the column except those in a Header row or in a Footer Row. Note the selected cells to be summed in the example, displayed with a purple-blue highlight colour.

Here's a fuller view of the table, with the formula entered in C14 displayed below the table.

The same formula could be used in a Header row cell of the same column.

Regards,

Barry

Tom,

Let's say you have a heading for Column A and want to sum the first five cells containing values in that column. You want the result to appear in cell A7, where you enter this formula:

=SUM(A2:A6)

If your Column A heading was Data, you cannot put =SUM(Data) in cell A7, but you could in an adjacent column cell.