# How to sum a whole column without the header in Google Sheets

Use an open-ended range that starts below the header: `=SUM(B2:B)` adds everything from B2 to the bottom of the sheet, including rows added later.

**Google Sheets:** `=SUM(B2:B)`

**Excel:** Excel has no open-ended ranges. Use `=SUM(B:B)` with the total outside column B (SUM skips the header text), or turn the data into a Table and use `=SUM(Table1[Donation])`.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Date | Donation |  | Total raised |
| 2026-09-01 | 250 |  |  |
| 2026-09-03 | 75 |  |  |
| 2026-09-04 | 120 |  |  |
| 2026-09-08 | 500 |  |  |
| 2026-09-12 | 40 |  |  |
| 2026-09-15 | 185 |  |  |

Formula in E1: `=SUM(B2:B)`

Result: $1,170

## How it works

`B2:B` has a start cell but no end row, so Google Sheets reads it as "B2 down to the last row of the sheet". A donation typed in row 8 or row 800 is included without editing the formula, and the header in B1 is left out.

## Other ways

- `=SUM(B:B)`: The whole column, header included. SUM skips the header text, and this form also works in Excel.
- `=SUM(B2:B1000)`: A fixed range with room to spare. It stops growing at row 1000.

## Common mistakes

- The total can't sit in column B: `=SUM(B2:B)` in B20 includes itself and becomes a circular reference.
- Anything else in column B below the data, like a note with a number or a second total, is added too. Keep the column for the data only.
- Open-ended ranges inside ARRAYFORMULA or FILTER reach every empty row to the bottom of the sheet. Filter out blanks, as in `FILTER(B2:B,B2:B<>"")`, so results don't fill with zeros.

## Questions

**How do I do this in Excel?**

Excel has no `B2:B`. Use `=SUM(B:B)` outside column B, or convert the data to a Table (Ctrl+T) and use `=SUM(Table1[Donation])`, which grows with the table.

**How do I sum a growing column with a condition?**

Open-ended ranges work in SUMIF too: `=SUMIF(A2:A,">="&DATE(2026,9,10),B2:B)`.

**Can a row be open-ended too?**

Yes. `=SUM(C2:2)` adds row 2 from column C to the last column.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/sum-a-whole-column-without-the-header