How to Calculate a Running Total in Excel

Method 1 — Simple addition (fastest)

-- In C2 (first row):
=B2

-- In C3 and below:
=C2 + B3
-- Add previous running total + current value
-- Drag down to extend

Simple but fragile — inserting rows breaks the chain.

Method 2 — SUM with mixed reference (most robust)

=SUM($B$2:B2)
-- In C2, this sums B2:B2 (just the first value)
-- In C3, becomes SUM($B$2:B3) — sums B2 to B3
-- In C4, becomes SUM($B$2:B4) — sums B2 to B4

-- The $ locks the start of the range
-- The end of the range expands as you drag down

This is the recommended approach — inserting rows doesn't break it, and it reads clearly.

Method 3 — SUMIF running total by category

=SUMIF($A$2:A2, A2, $B$2:B2)
-- Running total per category
-- If A column has regions, this gives running total per region
-- Each row shows cumulative total for that region up to that point

Running total in a pivot table

Right-click any value in a pivot table → Show Values As → Running Total In → choose the field to run along (usually Date or Month). No formulas needed.

💡 Running total for bank statement style

For a cash flow tracker with credits and debits: =D2 + B3 - C3 where D2=previous balance, B3=income, C3=expense. Drag down to build a running balance.

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How to calculate a running totalin Excel

Method 1 — Simple addition (fastest)

Method 2 — SUM with mixed reference (most robust)

Method 3 — SUMIF running total by category

Running total in a pivot table

Now practise it for real

How to calculate a running total
in Excel