In Excel: use =SUMPRODUCT(ABS(A2:A6)) — ABS turns every value positive and SUMPRODUCT adds the results without array entry; plain =SUM(A2:A6) lets negative values cancel positive ones.
On this page7
Select the cell for the result.
Type =SUMPRODUCT(ABS(A2:A6)), adjusting the range.
Press Enter.
Alternative without ABS: =SUMIF(A2:A6,">0")-SUMIF(A2:A6,"<0").
What this does
A sum of absolute values adds the size of each number and ignores its sign. SUM cannot do that, because negatives subtract. ABS converts each value to its positive magnitude, and SUMPRODUCT evaluates ABS across the whole range in any Excel version. In Excel versions with dynamic arrays, =SUM(ABS(A2:A6)) returns the same result directly; older versions need it entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter. Keep the inputs visible and clearly labelled and the whole thing stays auditable — anyone who opens the file later, including you, can see at a glance exactly what feeds the result and change one assumption without hunting through the formula. For “sum absolute value excel”, 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
A2:A6 holds -5, 3, -2, 4 and 0. =SUM(A2:A6) returns 0, because the negatives cancel the positives. =SUMPRODUCT(ABS(A2:A6)) returns 14 (5 + 3 + 2 + 4 + 0). With only -5 and 3, SUM gives -2 while the sum of absolute values is 8. Total deviation, gross movement and absolute error all need magnitudes, not a net figure in which gains and losses cancel out. 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
Google Sheets support for this task has not been verified. Check the function, arguments and workflow in the target product before transferring the example. Matching formula notation does not establish identical behaviour. 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 “sum absolute value excel”, 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
- Using
=SUM(A2:A6)and expecting magnitudes — negatives cancel positives. - Typing
=SUM(ABS(A2:A6))in an older Excel without Ctrl+Shift+Enter, which returns#VALUE!or only one value. - Including text in the range, which makes
ABSreturn#VALUE!insideSUMPRODUCT. - Wrapping only the total in
ABS:=ABS(SUM(A2:A6))is the size of the net sum, not the sum of sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ABS(SUM()) and SUM of ABS?
ABS(SUM(range)) makes the net total positive; SUMPRODUCT(ABS(range)) adds every magnitude. For -5 and 3 they return 2 and 8.
How do I sum only the negative values as a positive number?
Use =-SUMIF(A2:A6,"<0").
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes — =SUMPRODUCT(ABS(A2:A6)) is valid there too.