WHAT DOES SUMIF DO
The SUMIF function adds numbers that meet a single condition. It’s ideal for filtering and totaling values based on one criterion — such as summing sales in a specific region.
If you need to apply multiple conditions, use SUMIFS instead.
WHEN TO USE IT
- You need to sum values that match a single condition
- Your data is structured in columns with clearly labeled fields
- You want a simpler alternative to
SUMIFSwhen only one filter is needed
How is this different from SUMIFS?SUMIF is designed for just one condition. It exists to simplify cases where SUMIFS would be overkill. If you find yourself adding multiple conditions, switch to SUMIFS.
FORMULA SYNTAX
SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
range | The range of cells to test the condition against |
criteria | The condition to apply, like "East" or ">=100" |
sum_range | (optional) The range to sum if different from range |
EXAMPLE 1: SUM SALES WHERE REGION IS EAST
We want to sum all sales where the region is East.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Region | Sales |
| 2 | East | 100 |
| 3 | West | 200 |
| 4 | East | 150 |
| 5 | North | 250 |
=SUMIF(A2:A5, "East", B2:B5)Result: 100 + 150 = 250
EXAMPLE 2: SUM ORDERS GREATER THAN $500
We want to sum all order amounts greater than 500.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer | Order Total |
| 2 | Alice | 600 |
| 3 | Bob | 450 |
| 4 | Carol | 720 |
| 5 | David | 300 |
=SUMIF(B2:B5, ">500")Result: 600 + 720 = 1320
COMMON PITFALLS AND EDGE CASES
- If
sum_rangeis omitted,rangeis summed - Text or logical criteria must be enclosed in quotes
- Wildcards
"*"and"?"are supported - Only one condition is allowed — use SUMIFS for more
- All ranges must be the same size if both
rangeandsum_rangeare used
FURTHER READING
Official Microsoft documentation:
SUMIF – Microsoft Support