How do I add up numbers that match a condition?
SUMIF adds the values in one range if a matching condition is true in another range: =SUMIF(range, criteria, sum_range). SUMIFS does the same but supports multiple conditions at once: =SUMIFS(sum_range, range1, criteria1, range2, criteria2, ...).
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=SUMIFS(C:C, A:A, "Northeast", B:B, ">="&DATE(2026,6,1))SUMIF answers "add up column C, but only the rows where column A equals this one condition." SUMIFS extends that to several conditions at once: the example above adds column C only where column A is "Northeast" AND column B is a date on or after June 1, 2026.
Note that SUMIF and SUMIFS put the range to sum first in SUMIFS but the range to sum LAST in SUMIF's single-condition form. That inconsistency trips people up more than the actual logic does.
Step by step
- 1
For one condition, use SUMIF
=SUMIF(condition_range, criteria, sum_range). The sum_range goes last.
- 2
For more than one condition, use SUMIFS
=SUMIFS(sum_range, condition_range1, criteria1, condition_range2, criteria2, ...). The sum_range goes first here.
- 3
Put text criteria in quotes
Text conditions need quotes, e.g. "Northeast". Number and date comparisons often need an operator string, e.g. ">="&DATE(2026,6,1).
Common questions
Why does SUMIF put sum_range last but SUMIFS puts it first?
It is a historical inconsistency in how the two functions were designed. There is no logical reason, just remember the order for each.
Can I use SUMIFS with only one condition?
Yes. SUMIFS works fine with a single range/criteria pair and is a safe default if you might add more conditions later.
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