Summating multiple columns to a new column

emelie745 

I'm happy to help with your Excel beginner question! Adding a new column and summing values from other columns is indeed simple, and I'll guide you through it with step-by-step instructions and examples.

Here's how to add a new column and sum values from 5 other columns in Excel:

1. Insert the new column:

• Click on the cell to the right of where you want the new column to appear. This will highlight the entire column on its left.
• Right-click on the highlighted column header.
• Select "Insert" from the context menu.
• A new blank column will be inserted.

2. Sum the values from the other columns:

• In the first cell of the new column (e.g., A1 if you inserted the column before B1), enter the formula:

• Replace B1:F1 with the actual cell references of the five columns you want to sum. For example, if your data starts in row 2, use B2:F2 instead.
• Press Enter.

3. Copy the formula down the column:

• Click on the bottom right corner of the cell containing the formula (the small square). This will activate the fill handle.
• Drag the fill handle down the column. The formula will be copied to all the cells below, automatically adjusting the cell references for each row.

Example:

Let's say you have data in columns B to F like this:

Following the steps above, you would enter the formula =SUM(B2:F2) in cell A2 and drag the fill handle down to A3 and A4. This will give you the following result:

As you can see, the new column A now contains the sum of the values in columns B to F for each row.

Tips:

• You can format the new column (e.g., number format, alignment) by highlighting the cells and using the options in the Home tab.
• You can change the formula to sum different columns by adjusting the cell references within the SUM function.
• You can name the new column for easier reference by clicking on the column header and entering a name.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions or need help with specific scenarios in your Excel sheet.