AutoSum in Excel

One way to use Excel is to manually type each and every function. But it isn’t the most efficient way.

Who doesn’t love a few good time-saving tips for using Excel? Learning to use AutoSum is one way to save time versus writing formulas from scratch. Let’s learn how to use it to our advantage.

How to Use AutoSum in Excel

AutoSum is an Excel feature that helps you to create sums (and other functions) on data that is in adjacent cells. You can click on AutoSum on the ribbon on the Home tab, but there’s an easier way to insert it.

In the example below, I clicked in a cell just below a column of data. Let’s add a sum to this spreadsheet with AutoSum to subtotal data. The best way to do that is with the keyboard shortcut Alt + =. Excel automatically inserts the function and shows you the cells that will be subtotaled.

Press return on your keyboard to finish the formula. You’ll see the result in the cell.

AutoSum Does More Than Sums

The function name AutoSum sells the power of this function short. In fact, it can help you automate calculations like Average, Max, Min, and more.

Click on the dropdown arrow next to AutoSum to select another function. Let’s use Average as our example.

Much like the sum function, Excel has performed the work for us. The average calculation is already inserted, and you can press return to complete the step.

Don’t miss out on the More Functions option as well. Click on it to open an even larger list of functions that Excel can help you insert.

With AutoSum, you can save yourself the trouble of writing every formula from scratch. Remember the keyboard shortcut and that there’s even more functions on the dropdown menu.