How to Sum a Column in the Google Sheets Mobile App

To sum a column in Google Sheets on your phone or tablet, tap an empty cell where you want the total, enter a SUM formula such as =SUM(B2:B6), and tap the checkmark. The total updates when the numbers in the selected range change. You can do this in the Google Sheets app on Android or iPhone; the labels and keyboard layout may look a little different between devices.

What You’ll Need

The Google Sheets app installed on an Android phone, iPhone, or tablet, and access to the spreadsheet you want to edit.
A column containing the numbers you want to add. It is helpful to know the first and last cell in that range, such as B2 and B6.
An empty cell for the answer. Choose a cell outside the range being added so the total does not include itself.

You can enter a formula while offline if the file is available on your device, but it may not sync to other people or devices until you reconnect. If you are unsure whether your changes have synced, check the file again when you have an internet connection.

Step-by-Step

Open the spreadsheet. Launch the Google Sheets app and open the file containing the values. If the file is in a shared folder, make sure you have editing access; view-only access will not let you add a formula. Locate the column and identify the first and last cells that should be included. For example, if the figures start in B2 and end in B6, the range is B2:B6.
Choose a cell for the total. Tap an empty cell below the numbers or in another convenient spot. If the values occupy B2 through B6, B7 is a natural place for the result. Before using B7, check that it does not already contain a value you need. If the source data may grow, leave enough room below it or place the total somewhere separate, such as another column.
Start entering the formula. Tap the chosen cell, then tap the cell entry area or begin typing with the on-screen keyboard. Enter an equals sign followed by SUM and an opening parenthesis. The equals sign tells Sheets that you are entering a formula rather than ordinary text. You can type the full expression directly; you do not need to find a desktop-style AutoSum button.
Specify the range to add. With numbers in B2:B6 and the total going in B7, enter =SUM(B2:B6). The colon means “through,” so Sheets adds every cell from B2 to B6, including both endpoints. You can type the range using the keyboard, or, if the app lets you keep the formula active while you navigate, tap and drag across the source cells to select them. Check the displayed range before accepting it.
Confirm the entry. Tap the checkmark or equivalent confirmation control on the on-screen keyboard. The formula should be replaced by its calculated result in the cell. For example, if B2:B6 contains 12, 8, 15, 5, and 10, the result in B7 is 50. If you still see the formula instead of a number, follow the troubleshooting steps below to check whether the cell is being treated as text.
Verify which values were included. Tap the result cell and inspect the formula shown in the entry area. Confirm that the range begins and ends at the intended rows, and compare the result with a quick manual check if the list is short. If you edit one of the source numbers, the total should recalculate automatically. This is a useful final check that the formula points to the right cells.

The formula above assumes that the values to add are in B2:B6 and that B7 is the separate result cell. If your numbers are in another column or span a different number of rows, replace the B and row numbers with the actual cell references. For example, a range in column D must use D references rather than B references. Keep the colon between the first and last cell of a continuous range.

Common Mistakes

Including the total cell in the range: If you put the total in B7, a formula that sums B2:B7 includes its own result cell. That creates a circular reference instead of a normal total. Use B2:B6 for a result in B7, or move the total to a cell that is not part of the range.

Using a comma where a colon belongs: A colon describes one continuous block of cells. A comma separates different references or arguments, so it does not mean “from this row through that row.” For an ordinary uninterrupted column segment, enter the first cell, a colon, and the last cell.

Leaving out the equals sign or a parenthesis: A formula needs to start with =, and SUM needs a matching closing parenthesis. If you enter the word SUM or omit a bracket, Sheets may treat the entry as text or report a formula error.

Summing the wrong rows: A heading, subtotal, or unrelated value can accidentally get included if the range is too broad. Conversely, stopping one row too early leaves out a number. Read the range in the formula before confirming it, especially when the source list has a title row or blank rows.

Assuming every visible number is a number value: Some entries that look numeric may be stored as text, for example after being pasted from another app. SUM adds numeric values in the referenced cells, but text entries may not contribute to the result. Currency symbols, spaces, or other pasted formatting can be clues that an entry needs attention.

Tips

Use a clearly separate total cell and label it, for example with “Total” in the cell next to it. A label makes the result easier to understand later, particularly in a shared sheet. Keep the formula cell outside the data range even if you place the label directly beside it.

Choose the narrowest range that fits your task. If your entries currently run from B2 to B20, a bounded range is easier to review than adding an entire column. It also avoids unintentionally including a note, a separate calculation, or a future value elsewhere in that column. When you add more rows later, update the ending row in the formula if the new entries fall outside its original range.

If the column contains a heading, start the range below the heading. SUM generally ignores text in a referenced range, but excluding headings keeps the formula easy to audit and avoids confusion if the sheet changes. Blank cells inside the selected range do not prevent a total; they contribute nothing.

For a list that will keep growing, you can sum a whole column, but place the result in a different column. With values anywhere in column B and the result in C1, enter =SUM(B:B). This assumes the source values are in column B and the formula is in C1, not in column B. A whole-column reference is convenient, but a specific range is usually clearer for a small, fixed list.

After entering a formula, tap the result cell to review or edit it. You can change its range without retyping the whole expression: place the cursor in the formula and adjust the starting or ending cell reference. Be careful when editing on a small screen, since a misplaced tap can change a letter or row number.

Troubleshooting

The formula appears in the cell instead of the total. Check that the entry begins with an equals sign and that you confirmed it with the checkmark. If the cell has been formatted as plain text, change its number format to Automatic or Number, then edit and confirm the formula again. In the app, select the cell and look for formatting controls in the Format panel; the exact location can vary between Android and iOS versions.

The total is zero or lower than expected. First tap the result and check the range. Make sure it includes the rows with the values and does not stop before the final entry. Then inspect any figures that are not contributing: tap their cells and see whether they are stored as text or contain extra characters. If the values were pasted, try clearing unwanted spaces or re-entering one affected value as a number. Also check that the source cells do not contain formulas returning text rather than numeric results.

You see a formula error or circular-reference warning. Check that the formula has the opening and closing parentheses and that the cell references are written correctly. Confirm that the result cell is not inside the range being summed. For instance, if the formula is in B7, change a range ending at B7 so that it stops at the last actual data row instead.

You cannot edit the spreadsheet. Confirm that you are signed in to the account that has access to the file. A view-only file needs its owner to grant editing permission, or you can make a copy if that option is available and appropriate. If you are editing offline, reconnect and wait for pending changes to sync before checking the formula on another device.

The formula works but misses new entries. A bounded range only includes the cells specified in it. If the formula sums B2:B20 and you enter another value in B21, change the ending reference to include B21, or use a whole-column reference with the total located outside that column. Recheck that the broader range will not capture another total or unrelated data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sum a column in Google Sheets on an iPhone?
Yes. Open the sheet in the Google Sheets app, choose an empty result cell, enter a SUM formula using the on-screen keyboard, and tap the checkmark. The steps are essentially the same on Android; the keyboard and position of controls can differ.

Can I add a whole column instead of typing a row range?
Yes. A whole-column reference adds numeric values throughout that column. Put the formula in another column, not in the column being summed, to avoid including the formula cell in its own calculation. For a short list, a limited range is often easier to review.

Does SUM include blank cells?
Blank cells in the range do not change the result, so you can sum a range that has gaps. Make sure the range still covers all the rows you intend to include, including values below a blank row.

Will the total update when I change a number?
Yes. When a referenced cell changes, Sheets recalculates the result. If you add a new value outside a bounded range, however, edit the formula so that it includes the new row.

Why does my total ignore a number that I can see?
The entry may be stored as text rather than as a numeric value, or it may include extra characters. Check the cell’s contents and formatting, remove unwanted spaces or symbols, and enter the value again as a number.

Can I use the same SUM formula in Google Sheets on a computer?
Yes. The SUM function and cell-range notation are the same in the mobile app and the browser version of Google Sheets. The interface for entering and confirming the formula differs, but the calculation does not.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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