5 Ways To Sum Every Other Column In Excel

Many users struggle with summing every other column in Excel, as it can be a bit tricky. However, with the right techniques and formulas, you can easily achieve this task.

Summing every other column is a common requirement in data analysis, especially when working with large datasets. Whether you're dealing with financial data, scientific data, or any other type of data, being able to sum every other column can help you to identify trends, patterns, and insights that might be hidden in the data.

In this article, we'll explore five ways to sum every other column in Excel, using different formulas and techniques. We'll also provide examples and step-by-step instructions to help you to master these techniques.

Method 1: Using the AutoSum Feature

One of the easiest ways to sum every other column in Excel is to use the AutoSum feature. This feature allows you to quickly sum a range of cells, including every other column.

To use the AutoSum feature, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the sum.
2. Go to the "Formulas" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on the "AutoSum" button in the "Function Library" group.
4. Select the range of cells that you want to sum, including every other column.
5. Click "OK" to apply the formula.

The AutoSum feature will automatically apply the formula to sum every other column. You can then modify the formula to suit your needs.

Method 2: Using the SUMIF Function

Another way to sum every other column in Excel is to use the SUMIF function. This function allows you to sum a range of cells based on a specific condition, such as every other column.

To use the SUMIF function, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the sum.
2. Type the formula: =SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])
3. Replace "range" with the range of cells that you want to sum, including every other column.
4. Replace "criteria" with the condition that you want to apply, such as =ISEVEN(COLUMN()) to sum every other column.
5. Replace "[sum_range]" with the range of cells that you want to sum.

The SUMIF function will automatically sum every other column based on the condition that you specify.

Method 3: Using the INDEX-MATCH Function

You can also use the INDEX-MATCH function to sum every other column in Excel. This function allows you to sum a range of cells based on a specific condition, such as every other column.

To use the INDEX-MATCH function, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the sum.
2. Type the formula: =INDEX(range, MATCH(criteria, range, 0))
3. Replace "range" with the range of cells that you want to sum, including every other column.
4. Replace "criteria" with the condition that you want to apply, such as =ISEVEN(COLUMN()) to sum every other column.

The INDEX-MATCH function will automatically sum every other column based on the condition that you specify.

Method 4: Using the SUMPRODUCT Function

Another way to sum every other column in Excel is to use the SUMPRODUCT function. This function allows you to sum a range of cells based on a specific condition, such as every other column.

To use the SUMPRODUCT function, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the sum.
2. Type the formula: =SUMPRODUCT((range)*(criteria))
3. Replace "range" with the range of cells that you want to sum, including every other column.
4. Replace "criteria" with the condition that you want to apply, such as =ISEVEN(COLUMN()) to sum every other column.

The SUMPRODUCT function will automatically sum every other column based on the condition that you specify.

Method 5: Using VBA Macro

Finally, you can use a VBA macro to sum every other column in Excel. This method is more advanced and requires some programming knowledge, but it can be very powerful.

To use a VBA macro, follow these steps:

1. Press "Alt + F11" to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. In the Visual Basic Editor, click "Insert" > "Module" to insert a new module.
3. Paste the following code into the module:

Sub SumEveryOtherColumn()
  Dim range As Range
  Set range = Selection
  Dim sum As Double
  sum = 0
  For i = 1 To range.Columns.Count
    If i Mod 2 = 0 Then
      sum = sum + range.Columns(i).Value
    End If
  Next i
  MsgBox "The sum of every other column is: " & sum
End Sub

4. Save the module by clicking "File" > "Save" (or press "Ctrl + S").
5. Close the Visual Basic Editor by clicking "File" > "Close and Return to Microsoft Excel" (or press "Alt + Q").

The VBA macro will automatically sum every other column and display the result in a message box.

Gallery of Excel Columns:

Excel Columns Image Gallery

We hope this article has helped you to learn how to sum every other column in Excel. Whether you're using the AutoSum feature, the SUMIF function, the INDEX-MATCH function, the SUMPRODUCT function, or a VBA macro, you can easily achieve this task with the right techniques and formulas.