Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 12, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Most everyone knows that if you want to refer to a range of cells, you simply specify the beginning and ending point of the range and then separate those points by a colon. For instance, the following formula would return the sum of all cells in the range A1 through C4:
=SUM(A1:C4)
You may not know, however, how you can refer to the same cell or range of cells on a range of multiple worksheets in your workbook. For instance, you may want a cell to return the sum of each cell A1 on the first three worksheets in your workbook. If the worksheets are named Sheet1, Sheet2, and Sheet3, then the formula would appear as follows:
=SUM(Sheet1:Sheet3!A1)
Similarly, if you wanted the sum of all cells in the range A1 through C4 on each of the same worksheets, you would use the following formula:
=SUM(Sheet1:Sheet3!A1:C4)
At times this notation can be a bit difficult to remember. You can easily use the mouse to build such a range by following these steps:
Your formula should now be complete, with the desired range in place.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11803) 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: Ranges on Multiple Worksheets.
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!
Sometimes the data in a worksheet isn't in the exact format desired. If you want to divide your values by 1,000, there ...
Discover MoreIt's easy to select non-contiguous ranges using the mouse but may seem more daunting if you are simply using the ...
Discover MoreWant a quick way to tell how may rows and columns you've selected? Here's what I do when I need to know that information.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-08-25 12:09:12
J. Woolley
My previous comment below mentions My Excel Toolbox's MAXIF and MINIF, which are missing from Excel; however, Excel 2019 includes MAXIFS and MINIFS, which are similar to MAXIF and MINIF.
2020-12-12 11:24:56
J. Woolley
These are often called 3D range references. My Excel Toolbox has several freely available functions that support such references but are not included in Excel: COUNTBLANK3D, COUNTIF3D, SUMIF3D, AVERAGEIF3D, MAXIF3D, and MINIF3D. The last two are supported by MAXIF and MINIF, which are also missing from Excel. See https://sites.google.com/view/MyExcelToolbox/
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments