Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Summing a Table Column.

Summing a Table Column

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated June 17, 2020)

Word allows you to do simple spreadsheet-style calculations on tabular data. You do this using equation fields. For instance, let's assume you had a 20-row table in which you wanted to total the values in the third column. All you need to do is the following:

Position the insertion point in the cell you want to contain the total. (In this example, you would position the insertion point in the bottom cell of the third column.)
Display the Layout tab on the ribbon under Table Tools.
Click the Formula tab in the Data group. Word displays the Formula dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Formula dialog box.

Using the Number Format drop-down list, select how you want the number to be formatted. (This step is optional.)
Click on OK.

Once the sum is placed in the cell and you later change the column figures, remove rows, or add new rows, you will need to update the sum. You do this by selecting the field you inserted and then pressing F9.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11759) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Summing a Table Column.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is seven less than 7?

2020-05-22 16:36:15

MIchael Armstrong

If you set rows to not break across a page, that will also stop the SUM(ABOVE) function from summing when it reaches the break (going up). (Word 365)

2016-05-19 14:43:59

Cyndi Houser

Thank you for the tip. I've wondered about this for a l-o-n-g time! Tried it and it really works.

2016-05-14 10:58:22

Roger R. Brown

You use in your explanation "In This Example"
However I do not see any type of example displayed. Being new to all of this I always look for an example that has been laid out in diagram form, but when you put "In This Example" you have no diagram visually and that makes it very difficult to understand. I hope you can help me with a solution to this concern. I also hope to hear from you soon !

Roger R. Brown

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