In Excel: use =SUMPRODUCT(range1, range2) — it multiplies the ranges row by row and adds the results, so quantities × prices becomes a single order total.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
array1 | required | The first range or array. All arrays must have identical dimensions. |
array2, ... | optional | Further ranges of the same shape, multiplied element by element before summing. |
Related functions
Select the result cell and type =SUMPRODUCT(.
Select the first range, type a comma, then select the second — they must be exactly the same size and shape.
Press Enter; you get the total of every row's product without a helper column.
For conditional logic, multiply bracketed comparisons instead: (range="X")*(range>0).
What this does
SUMPRODUCT multiplies corresponding elements of equally sized ranges and sums the products. That one behaviour covers a surprising amount of ground: order totals from quantity and price columns, weighted averages, and — because TRUE and FALSE become 1 and 0 when multiplied — conditional counting and summing with logic that SUMIFS cannot express, such as criteria that reference a calculation rather than a plain column. It was the standard multi-criteria tool before SUMIFS existed and remains the answer when the condition is an expression. Every array must have identical dimensions or the result is #VALUE!. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “sumproduct function in excel”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected formula visible, and compare the result with the outcome you expected before you touch the real workbook. 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. The point is a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
Quantities in B2:B20 and unit prices in C2:C20: =SUMPRODUCT(B2:B20, C2:C20) returns the order value in one cell, with no helper column. A weighted average of scores and weights: =SUMPRODUCT(B2:B20, C2:C20)/SUM(C2:C20). Counting rows where the region is West and the value exceeds 1,000: =SUMPRODUCT((A2:A20="West")*(D2:D20>1000)). SUMPRODUCT replaces an entire helper column with one cell, and expresses conditions SUMIFS has no syntax for. 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. Nothing on this page is behind a login or a download: the exact answer is at the top, and the detail below it is there for when you need it. That is the whole promise here — the answer first, and just enough context to make it stick. For “sumproduct function in 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
- Ranges of different sizes, which returns
#VALUE!— this is the single most commonSUMPRODUCTerror. - Including whole-column references such as
A:Aon large sheets, which forces far more calculation than necessary and slows the workbook. - Text or errors inside a range;
SUMPRODUCTpropagates the error rather than skipping it, so clean the data or wrap terms inIFERROR.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted average?
=SUMPRODUCT(values, weights)/SUM(weights). The numerator multiplies each value by its weight and totals them; the denominator normalises.
Why does SUMPRODUCT return #VALUE!?
Either the ranges differ in size, or one contains text or an error value. Check the dimensions first — that is the usual cause.
When should I use SUMPRODUCT instead of SUMIFS?
When a criterion is an expression rather than a column comparison — for example testing a calculated value, or comparing two columns to each other.