# How to calculate a running total in Excel

Sum from a locked first cell to the current row, =SUM($B$2:B2), and fill it down. The range grows by one row each time.

**Excel:** `=SUM($B$2:B2)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month | Revenue | Running total |
| Jan | 18400 |  |
| Feb | 21950 |  |
| Mar | 19800 |  |
| Apr | 24300 |  |
| May | 26150 |  |
| Jun | 23700 |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C7: `=SUM($B$2:B2)`

Result: $18,400; $40,350; $60,150; $84,450; $110,600; $134,300

## How it works

The dollar signs lock the start of the range at `$B$2`, while the end, `B2`, moves when you fill down. Row 3 becomes `=SUM($B$2:B3)`, row 4 `=SUM($B$2:B4)`, and so on, so each row adds everything up to itself.

## Other ways

- `=SUM(B$2:B2)`: Locking only the row is enough when you fill down a single column.

## Common mistakes

- `=SUM(B2:B2)` without $ shifts both ends when filled, so every row shows only its own value.
- The pattern `=C1+B2` also works but breaks if row 1 holds a header; start it as `=B2` in the first row.

## Questions

**How do I make a running total that resets each month or category?**

Use SUMIFS with the growing range: `=SUMIFS($B$2:B2,$A$2:A2,A2)` adds only earlier rows with the same category.

**How do I do a running count instead?**

Use `=COUNTA($A$2:A2)` or `=COUNTIF($A$2:A2,A2)` for a count per value.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-29.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/running-total