Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

To add up a column or row numbers in a table, use the Formula command.

  1. Click the table cell where you want your result.

  2. Click the Table Tools Layout tab and click Formula.

Formula button for table tools

  1. Check between the parentheses to make sure Word includes the cells you want in the sum.

Sum formula in the formula box

=SUM(ABOVE) adds the numbers in the column above the cell you’re in.

=SUM(LEFT) adds the numbers in the row to the left of the cell you’re in.

=SUM(BELOW) adds the numbers in the column below the cell you’re in.

=SUM(RIGHT) adds the numbers in the row to the right of the cell you’re in.

If you make changes to the numbers you’re adding, select the sum and press F9 to show the new results.

You can also use more than one formula in a table. For example, you can add up each row of numbers in the right-hand column, and then you can add up those results at the bottom of the column.

Other formulas for tables

Word includes other functions for tables—for example, AVERAGE and PRODUCT.

  1. Click the table cell where you want your result.

  2. Click the Table Tools Layout tab and click Formula.

Formula button for table tools

  1. In the Formula box, delete the SUM formula, but keep the equal sign (=). Then click the Paste function box and click the function you want.

Formula box with function menu

  1. Between the parentheses, choose which table cells you want to include in the formula:

Type ABOVEto include the numbers in the column above the cell you’re in and click OK.

Type LEFT to include the numbers in the row to the left of the cell you’re in and click OK.

Type BELOW to include the numbers in the column below the cell you’re in and click OK.

Type RIGHT to include the numbers in the row to the right of the cell you’re in and click OK.

For example, to average numbers in the row to the left of the cell, click AVERAGE and type LEFT:

=AVERAGE(LEFT)

To multiply two numbers, click PRODUCT and type the location of the table cells:

=PRODUCT(ABOVE)

Tip: To include a more specific range of cells in a formula, you can refer to specific cells. Imagine each column in your table has a letter and each row has a number, like in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. For example, to multiply the numbers from the second and third columns in the second row, type =PRODUCT(B2:C2).

To add up the numbers in a column or row, use the Formula command.

  1. Click the table cell where you want your result.

  2. On the Layout tab next to the Table Design tab, select Formula.

    On the Layout tab, select Formula

  3. Check between the parentheses to make sure Word includes the cells you want in the sum.

    The Formula box, showing the formula used to sum a column

    =SUM(ABOVE) adds the numbers in the column above the cell you’re in.

    =SUM(LEFT) adds the numbers in the row to the left of the cell you’re in.

    =SUM(BELOW) adds the numbers in the column below the cell you’re in.

    =SUM(RIGHT) adds the numbers in the row to the right of the cell you’re in.

Tips: 

  • If you make changes to the numbers you’re adding, select the sum and press fn + F9 to show the new results.

  • You can use more than one formula in a table. For example, you can add up each row of numbers in the right-hand column, and then you can add up those results at the bottom of the column.

Other formulas for tables

Word includes other functions for tables—for example, AVERAGE and PRODUCT.

  1. Click the table cell where you want your result.

  2. On the Layout tab next to the Table Design tab, click Formula.

    On the Layout tab, select Formula

  3. In the Formula box, delete the SUM formula, but keep the equal sign (=). Then click the Paste function box and click the function you want.

    In the Formula box, select the function from the Paste function list

  4. Between the parentheses, choose which table cells you want to include in the formula:

    Type ABOVE to include the numbers in the column above the cell you’re in.

    Type LEFT to include the numbers in the row to the left of the cell you’re in.

    Type BELOW to include the numbers in the column below the cell you’re in.

    Type RIGHT to include the numbers in the row to the right of the cell you’re in.

    For example, to average numbers in the row to the left of the cell, click AVERAGE and type LEFT:

    =AVERAGE(LEFT)

    To multiply two numbers, click PRODUCT and type the location of the table cells:

    =PRODUCT(ABOVE)

Tip: To include a more specific range of cells in a formula, you can refer to specific cells. Imagine each column in your table has a letter and each row has a number, like in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. For example, to multiply the numbers from the second and third columns in the second row, type =PRODUCT(B2:C2).

If you’re familiar with the desktop version of Word, you know you can use formulas to perform calculations such as summing a column or row of numbers in a table. Word for the web preserves formulas already in your document, but it doesn’t yet provide a way to add them.

If you have the desktop version of Word, use the Open in Word command to open your document in the Word.

Image of the Open in Desktop App command

 Then, follow the instructions for the desktop version of Word. When you’re done and you save the document, it will continue to store the formula when you open it in Word for the web.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×