Spreadsheet Practice

How to sum numbers separated by commas in one cell in Excel

Excel formula

=SUM(--TEXTSPLIT(B2,","))

Split the text and add the pieces: =SUM(--TEXTSPLIT(B2,",")) in Excel 365, or =SUM(SPLIT(B2,",")) in Google Sheets.

Result on the example
one result per row in C2, filled down to C6
Works in
Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365
Google Sheets
Different formula, see below

See it work

The formula is already in C2, filled down to C6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

TEXTSPLIT breaks "12.5,8,15.25" into three pieces of text. The double minus turns them into numbers, because SUM skips numbers stored as text. Google Sheets' SPLIT already returns numbers, so SUM can add them directly. A cell with a single number, like 7.2, works too.

=SUM(--TEXTSPLIT(B2,","))

Result35.75

  1. B2"12.5,8,15.25"

    The value in B2.

  2. TEXTSPLIT(B2,","){1 row × 3 cols} "12.5", "8", "15.25"

    TEXTSPLIT: Splits text across columns, and rows, at the delimiters you give.

    • textB2"12.5,8,15.25"
    • col_delimiter","
  3. -TEXTSPLIT(B2,","){1 row × 3 cols} -12.5, -8, -15.25

    Makes the value negative.

  4. --TEXTSPLIT(B2,","){1 row × 3 cols} 12.5, 8, 15.25

    Makes the value negative.

  5. SUM(--TEXTSPLIT(B2,","))35.75

    SUM: Adds numbers and ranges. Skips text and blanks.

    • number1--TEXTSPLIT(B2,","){1 row × 3 cols} 12.5, 8, 15.25

In Google Sheets

Google Sheets needs a different formula: =SUM(SPLIT(B2,",")). On the same data it gives the same result. Here it is running in Google Sheets mode.

Other ways to do it

Each one was run on the same example sheet.

FormulaResultWhen to use it
=SUM(VALUE(TEXTSPLIT(B2,",")))Excel only35.75, 10.75, 58.50…VALUE does the same conversion as the double minus and reads more clearly.

Common mistakes

  • Without --, =SUM(TEXTSPLIT(B2,",")) returns 0 because every piece is text.
  • Spaces after commas ("12.5, 8") still convert, but other separators like semicolons need their own delimiter: TEXTSPLIT(B2,{",",";"}).
  • TEXTSPLIT is Excel 365 only. In older versions, split the column with Data > Text to Columns first.

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 numbers separated by commas in one cell

In C2, add up the box weights listed in B2, then fill down to C6.

Questions

How do I count the numbers in the cell?

Use =COUNTA(TEXTSPLIT(B2,",")), or in any version =LEN(B2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(B2,",",""))+1.

How do I average them?

Swap SUM for AVERAGE: =AVERAGE(--TEXTSPLIT(B2,",")).

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.