MS Excel: Working with SUMIFS (Multiple Criteria) Explained
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The SUMIFS function in Excel allows you to add values based on multiple conditions. It is an advanced version of SUMIF and is widely used in finance, reporting, and data analysis roles.
If you need to calculate totals that meet more than one requirement, SUMIFS is the solution.
What Does SUMIFS Do?
SUMIFS adds numbers that match all specified criteria.
For example:
Total sales for January
For the Finance department
Where the amount is over £1,000
Instead of filtering manually, SUMIFS calculates this instantly.
The Structure of SUMIFS
=SUMIFS(sum_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, criteria_range2, criteria2, ...)
sum_range – The numbers you want to add
criteria_range – The range you want to test
criteria – The condition that must be met
You can include multiple criteria pairs.
Example 1: Two Criteria
=SUMIFS(C2:C100, A2:A100, "January", B2:B100, "Finance")
This adds values in C2:C100 where:
Column A equals “January”AND
Column B equals “Finance”
Example 2: Using Number Conditions
=SUMIFS(C2:C100, C2:C100, ">1000", A2:A100, "January")
This sums values greater than 1000 in January.
Example 3: Using Dates
=SUMIFS(C2:C100, A2:A100, ">=01/01/2026", A2:A100, "<=31/01/2026")
This calculates totals within a specific date range.
Why SUMIFS Matters
SUMIFS is essential for:
✔ Financial reporting
✔ Budget tracking
✔ Sales performance analysis
✔ Departmental cost summaries
✔ Monthly and quarterly reporting
It allows you to create precise, multi-condition calculations without complex filters.
Key Difference: SUMIF vs SUMIFS
SUMIF → One condition
SUMIFS → Multiple conditions
If your analysis requires more than one rule, use SUMIFS.
Final Thoughts
SUMIFS is one of the most powerful everyday Excel functions for reporting and analysis. It allows you to calculate accurate totals based on multiple criteria, making your spreadsheets smarter and more professional.
Mastering SUMIFS is a strong step toward advanced Excel capability.
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