How to sum if one column is greater than another in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7)SUMIF can't compare two columns row by row, so use SUMPRODUCT: =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7).
- Result on the example
- $67,420 in
F1 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in F1. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
C2:C7>B2:B7 compares each actual with the budget on the same row, giving TRUE for the three projects over budget. Multiplying by the actuals keeps those amounts and zeros the rest, and SUMPRODUCT adds them. The brand video hit its budget exactly and is not over.
=SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7)Result67420
C2:C76 rows × 1 col: $21,450, $39,800, $27,350, $12,000, …A range: 6 cells in one column.
B2:B76 rows × 1 col: $18,000, $42,000, $25,000, $12,000, …A range: 6 cells in one column.
C2:C7>B2:B7{6 rows × 1 col} TRUE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, …The > operator tests greater than.
C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7{6 rows × 1 col} 21450, 0, 27350, 0, …The * operator multiplies.
SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7)67420SUMPRODUCT: Multiplies arrays row by row and adds the results.- array1
C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7{6 rows × 1 col} 21450, 0, 27350, 0, …
- array1
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*C2:C7). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns $67,420.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =SUM(FILTER(C2:C7,C2:C7>B2:B7)) | $67,420 | Excel 365 and Google Sheets: FILTER keeps the over-budget actuals. |
| =SUMPRODUCT(--(C2:C7>B2:B7),C2:C7) | $67,420 | The comma form, which also treats any text in the actuals as 0. |
Common mistakes
=SUMIF(C2:C7,">"&B2:B7)doesn't compare row by row; it returns several results or the wrong total.- If the over-budget amount itself is what you want, subtract the budget: see the first FAQ.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Sum if one column is greater than another
F1, total the actual spend of the projects whose actual is greater than their budget.Questions
How do I sum only the overrun amounts?
Use =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7>B2:B7)*(C2:C7-B2:B7)), which gives 9,420 here.
How do I sum rows where two columns are equal?
Change the test: =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7=B2:B7)*C2:C7).
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.