How to sum the top 3 values in Excel

Q: How do I sum the top N with N in a cell?

In Excel 365 or Google Sheets use SEQUENCE: =SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,SEQUENCE(E2))).

Q: How do I sum the bottom 3?

Use SMALL instead of LARGE: =SUM(SMALL(B2:B8,{1,2,3})).

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}))

Use LARGE with an array of ranks inside SUM: =SUM(LARGE(range,{1,2,3})).

Result on the example: $188,050 in E1
Works in: Every current version
Google Sheets: Same formula

See it work

The formula is already in E1. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}) returns the 1st, 2nd and 3rd largest values together, and SUM adds them. The braces are an array constant: one formula asks for three ranks at once.

=SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}))

Result188050

B2:B87 rows × 1 col: $48,200, $61,750, $57,300, $39,800, …
A range: 7 cells in one column.
{1,2,3}{1 row × 3 cols} 1, 2, 3
An array of values.
LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}){1 row × 3 cols} 66400, 61750, 59900
LARGE: k-th largest value.
- arrayB2:B87 rows × 1 col: $48,200, $61,750, $57,300, $39,800, …
- k{1,2,3}{1 row × 3 cols} 1, 2, 3
SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}))188050
SUM: Adds numbers and ranges. Skips text and blanks.
- number1LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}){1 row × 3 cols} 66400, 61750, 59900

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3})). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns $188,050.

Other ways to do it

Each one was run on the same example sheet.

Formula	Result	When to use it
=SUMPRODUCT(LARGE(B2:B8,{1,2,3}))	$188,050	SUMPRODUCT handles the array without special entry in older versions of Excel.
=LARGE(B2:B8,1)+LARGE(B2:B8,2)+LARGE(B2:B8,3)	$188,050	Longer, but easy to read and works everywhere.

Common mistakes

If the list has fewer values than the ranks you ask for, LARGE returns #NUM!.
Ties are counted separately: two stores tied for third both count only once each, so the top 3 are still exactly three values.

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 the top 3 values

In E1, add up the three highest sales in B2:B8.

Questions

How do I sum the top N with N in a cell?

In Excel 365 or Google Sheets use SEQUENCE: =SUM(LARGE(B2:B8,SEQUENCE(E2))).

How do I sum the bottom 3?

Use SMALL instead of LARGE: =SUM(SMALL(B2:B8,{1,2,3})).

Checked by running on 2026-10-29: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.