Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Using SUM In a Macro.

Using SUM In a Macro

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 23, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


5

Bob has a need to use the SUM function in a macro in order to find the sum of all the values in a column. The problem is that the number of cells to be summed will vary; for one run of the macro it could be 100 cells, while on the next it could be 300 and on the third only 25.

First, it is easy to use most worksheet functions (such as SUM) from within a macro. All you need to do is to preface the function name with "Application.WorksheetFunction." or simply "WorksheetFunction." Thus, if you know that each run of the macro will require summing A1:A100, then A1:A300, and finally A1:A25, you could use a macro like this:

Public Sub Sum_Demo()
    Dim myRange
    Dim Results
    Dim Run As Long

    For Run = 1 To 3
        Select Case Run
        Case 1
            myRange = Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1", "A100")
        Case 2
            myRange = Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1", "A300")
        Case 3
            myRange = Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1", "A25")
        End Select
        Results = WorksheetFunction.Sum(myRange)
        Range("B" & Run) = Results
    Next Run
End Sub

This macro uses a For . . . Next loop to specify different ranges of cells to be summed. It then uses the SUM worksheet function to assign the sum to the Results variable, which is (finally) stuffed into a cell in column B. The results of the first run are put in B1, the second in B2, and the third in B3.

While this particular macro may not be that useful, it shows several helpful techniques, such as how to define a named range, how to use the SUM function, and how to stuff the sum into a cell. What the macro doesn't do is to show how to select a variable number of cells to be summed. To do this, it is best to rely upon the End method of the Range object. The following code line shows how you can stuff the sum of the range starting at A1 and extending to just before the first blank cell in the column:

myRange = ActiveSheet.Range("A1", Range("A1").End(xlDown))
Range("B1") = WorksheetFunction.Sum(myRange)

Note that a range (myRange) is defined as beginning with A1 and extending through whatever the End method returns. This is then summed and stuffed into B1.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9180) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Using SUM In a Macro.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Undeleting a Worksheet

Have you ever deleted a worksheet by mistake? Once you get over the sick feeling in your stomach, you will start casting ...

Discover More

Setting User Information

Need to change the information that Word stores about you? Here's how to find the info.

Discover More

Excel Serious Sorting (Special Offer)

Excel Serious Sorting shows you how to put your data into the order that makes best sense. Increase your ...

Discover More

Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Page Numbers in VBA

When you print a larger worksheet, Excel breaks the printout across several pages. You may want to know, before you ...

Discover More

Deleting Blank Rows

Got some pesky blank rows in your data that you want to get rid of? This tip provides a wide variety of methods you can ...

Discover More

Forcing Manual Calculation For a Workbook

If you have a large, complex workbook, you may want to make sure that it is always calculated manually instead of ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 3?

2020-06-22 09:14:28

Peter Atherton

peter

I'm sure sure that this is what you want, but you could try the INDIRECT and ADDRESS functions The figure shows a couple of ways you can get the result. The sums shown are the sum of the column numbers in the range.

(see Figure 1 below)

Figure 1. Sum of Column Numbers


2020-06-21 17:15:36

peter

hi

i'm looking to sum elements of a non-printed matrix, within a certain predfined range.

For example, A is a 1024 x 312 matrix, and i'd like to sum all items f.e between rows 5 and 10, and between columns 10 and 20.

Is there a worksheet function for this in excel, or am i forced to write nested for loops?

thanks,
peter


2020-05-24 10:09:38

J. Woolley

@Willy Vanhaelen
I forgot about Application.Evaluate. Here's yet another way to express the macro:

Public Sub Sum_Demo()
[B1] = [Sum(A1:A100)]
[B2] = [Sum(A1:A300)]
[B3] = [Sum(A1:A25)]
End Sub


2020-05-23 11:58:54

J. Woolley

@Allen
Your macro works because myRange is Variant. But you really should use
Dim myRange As Range
...
Set myRange = ...

To reference a built-in Excel function F(...) in VBA, you can use either
V = Application.WorksheetFunction.F(...)
or V = WorksheetFunction.F(...)
or V = Application.F(...).
With the first two alternatives, execution will halt with a debug dialog if F(...) produces an error; in this case, 'On Error Resume Next' can be used to avoid the dialog and check for an error.
With the third alternative V = Application.F(...), any error will be recorded in V which should be tested using IsError(V).

BTW, you might be interested in my new web site:
https://sites.google.com/view/MyExcelToolbox/


2020-05-23 11:51:08

Willy Vanhaelen

This tip's macro has 15 lines of code. The following 3 lines macro does the same job !!!

Public Sub Sum_Demo()
[B1] = Application.Sum(Range("A1", "A100"))
[B2] = Application.Sum(Range("A1", "A300"))
[B3] = Application.Sum(Range("A1", "A25"))
End Sub


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.