Excel SUMIF Function (Sum With One Condition) – Examples & Practice
Practice the Excel SUMIF function online with an interactive grid, instant feedback, and clear formula help.
Instruction
Sum sales in C2:C6 only for rows where region in A2:A6 equals "North".
Formula Syntax
=SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])
- range: The range to evaluate with criteria.
- criteria: A number, expression, cell reference, text, or wildcard that defines which cells to sum.
- [sum_range]: Optional actual cells to sum; if omitted, Excel sums the range cells that meet criteria when appropriate.
What it does
SUMIF adds values in a sum range where a single criterion matches a criteria range. It is the simplest conditional aggregation for one rule.
Excel SUMIF Function Examples
Sum one region
=SUMIF(A2:A6, "North", C2:C6)
Totals C where A equals North.
Criteria on numbers
=SUMIF(B2:B6, ">100", C2:C6)
Sums C where B is greater than 100.
sales-by-region.xlsx
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Region | Rep | Sales |
| 2 | North | Liam | 320 |
| 3 | South | Mia | 280 |
| 4 | North | Noah | 410 |
| 5 | West | Olivia | 295 |
| 6 | South | Paul | 360 |
| 7 | Output |
Input Formula
Need Help?
Tips
- Normalize text keys with TRIM/LOWER when matches fail mysteriously.
- Move to SUMIFS when you add a second condition.
- Keep all ranges the same height.
SUMIF Function Use Cases
- Regional sales totals
- Category spend rollups
- Simple conditional KPIs
- Teaching criteria logic before SUMIFS
- Quick what-if slices on flat tables
Common mistakes - SUMIF function not working
- Mismatched range heights between criteria and sum columns
- Text numbers that never match criteria
- Using SUMIF when multiple criteria require SUMIFS
- Hard-coded criteria that should be cell references
- Forgetting quotes around text criteria
FAQ
Does SUMIF sum the criteria range or the sum range?
It tests criteria_range and sums sum_range (or criteria_range if sum_range is omitted for numeric criteria ranges).
SUMIF vs SUMIFS?
SUMIF handles one condition. SUMIFS handles one or more conditions with a different argument order.
Can criteria use wildcards?
Yes. Patterns like "North*" can work depending on your data and rules.
Why is my SUMIF zero?
Check for extra spaces, text vs number mismatches, and mismatched range sizes.
Can SUMIF reference a whole column?
Yes, but prefer bounded ranges for performance and clarity.
Comparison
| Function | Conditions |
|---|---|
| SUMIF | One |
| SUMIFS | One or more |
| SUM | No criteria |
Example
=SUMIF(A2:A6, "North", C2:C6)
Advanced examples
SUMIF on dates
Use date criteria carefully—serial comparisons often work best with DATE literals or valid date cells.