Excel SUMIF Two Conditions

There are two ways to “excel sumif two conditions”: the quick way you copy and the durable way you understand. This page gives you both. The exact Excel answer is above; below, we build the small mental model that makes the fix stick, so the next variation of the same problem solves itself.

Exact answer

In Excel: use =SUMIFS(sum_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, criteria_range2, criteria2) — it adds the numbers in sum_range only for rows that satisfy every condition you list.

On this page8

Syntax

=SUMIFS(sum_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, [criteria_range2, criteria2], ...)

Arguments

Argumentrequired / optionalDescription
sum_rangerequiredThe cells to add — and unlike SUMIF this comes FIRST, not last.
criteria_range1requiredThe first column tested against criteria1.
criteria1requiredThe condition for criteria_range1, like "West" or ">100".
criteria_range2, criteria2optionalOptional further range/criterion pairs; all conditions must be true (AND logic).

Related functions

SUMIFCOUNTIFSCOUNTIF
▤Annotated stepsExcel
1

Type =SUMIFS( and select the column of numbers to add as sum_range first — this is the order difference from SUMIF.

2

Type a comma, select the first column to test, type a comma, and enter its criterion in quotes.

3

Type a comma and add the next range-and-criterion pair, for example the month column and "Jan".

4

Repeat for any further conditions, then close the bracket and press Enter.

5

Lock the ranges with $ if you will copy the formula across a summary table.

Ctrl+CthenCtrl+Shift+V⌘+Cthen⌘+Ctrl+VPaste values · WindowsMac

What this does

SUMIFS adds numbers across multiple conditions at once, combining them with AND logic: a row is counted only if it passes all of the criteria_range/criteria pairs. The crucial difference from SUMIF is argument order — in SUMIFS the sum_range comes FIRST, followed by each range-and-criterion pair, whereas SUMIF puts the sum_range last. You can stack up to 127 condition pairs. The same idea underpins a lot of everyday Excel work, so the few minutes spent getting it right here pay back across every sheet you build afterwards. Treat it as a pattern, not a one-off, and it stops being something you look up and starts being something you reach for. For “excel sumif two conditions”, the reliable version is a short checking loop, not just the first command that appears to work. Run it on a deliberately small range first, watch how the affected cells change, and only then apply the same setup to the full sheet. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. That is what makes a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor useful in real work: repeatable, auditable, and not dependent on memory or luck.

A worked example

Sales are in C2:C100, regions in A2:A100, months in B2:B100. To total sales that are both West AND January: =SUMIFS(C2:C100, A2:A100, "West", B2:B100, "Jan"). It adds a row only when the region is "West" and the month is "Jan", returning say 12750. Note the sum column C2:C100 comes first, before any criteria. SUMIFS is the workhorse for cross-tabulated totals — sales by region and month, costs by department and quarter — letting one formula replace a filtered pivot for many summary tables. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.

In Google Sheets

The standard worksheet functions used by this example are listed in Google Sheets. Check the cell references, argument separators and input types in the target spreadsheet, then compare the worked result. This formula-availability check does not establish identical menus, keyboard shortcuts or workbook features, and it is not a product execution test. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, repeat the steps once in your own workbook — doing it yourself is what turns a copied answer into something you remember. For “excel sumif two conditions”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.

Common mistakes

  • Putting sum_range last as in SUMIF — in SUMIFS it must come first, or the formula returns 0 or an error.
  • Using criteria ranges of different heights from sum_range, which throws a #VALUE! error.
  • Expecting OR logic — SUMIFS requires every condition to be true; for "either" totals, add two SUMIFS together.

Frequently asked questions

How is SUMIFS different from SUMIF?

SUMIFS handles multiple conditions and puts sum_range first; SUMIF handles one condition and puts sum_range last. For a single criterion either works, but the argument order differs, so do not mix them up.

Does SUMIFS use AND or OR logic?

AND — a row contributes only when it meets all the criteria pairs. To total rows meeting one OR another condition, add two SUMIFS formulas together.

Can SUMIFS use comparison operators and wildcards?

Yes. Each criterion can be a quoted comparison like ">=100" or a wildcard pattern like "App*", exactly as in SUMIF, and you can reference cells with concatenation such as ">"&E1.