Formulas. They’re one of Excel’s most powerful features, but they can also be one of the most intimidating. Fortunately, you don’t need to be an expert to create and use formulas successfully. Excel has a built-in tool to help you get started. Let’s learn how to use the Formula Builder in Microsoft Excel.
How to Use the Formula Builder in Microsoft Excel
Imagine for a moment that you have a list of data, and you want to calculate the average. The best way is with a formula, but you might not know exactly how to start from scratch. Don’t worry – the Excel Formula Builder can guide you step-by-step.
To open the formula builder, first click into any empty cell where you’d like to place a formula. Then, click the formula button (fx) immediately left of the formula bar. Excel will open the Formula Builder sidebar on the right side of your screen.
Excel logs a list of Most Recently Used functions, and you can also search in the box. Plus, the function library is listed alphabetically, so you can scroll through to find your options. Choose AVERAGE, then click Insert Function.
You’ll see the AVERAGE function appear in your formula bar. Now, all you have to do is select your data. Click and drag your cursor to select the range, which in this example is F3:F5. You’ll see the complete formula appear in the formula bar:
=AVERAGE(F3:F5)
To finish, simply click Done on the Formula Builder sidebar. Excel will return your solution in the cell.
With step-by-step guidance, Formula Builder steers you through even complex formulas. This is the perfect way to ensure your data works for you. And even if you’re a spreadsheet expert, it still pays to use Formula Builder. The automated features help save time and ensure you’re performing accurate calculations.
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