How to Total a Column

Knowing how to total a column in Word can be very beneficial if you are working with money and wanting exact numbers of the cost of a product in the table. Below I will provide some tips on how to complete totaling columns in Word.

First Step: Create your table with your numbers already inserted in your table. Below is an example of a table with numbers to calculate.

Second Step: insert another row. Do not insert any data into that row. If you do not know how to do that, simply press "tab" on your keyboard after you type in the last entry (92.00), and that will insert a new row.

As you can see above, I have circle my cusor..this is where you want your cursor for the next couple of steps.

Third Step: Select the "Layout" tab so you can see all of the options. After doing that, click "Formula." Continue to the third step for more detail.

Fourth Step: After you have clicked "Formula," a box will appear that has options such as "Formula:", "Number format:", and "Paste function:" Go straight to the "Paste function" and click the down arrow. It will give you many things to choose from, but in this situation, we are wanting to the total of the table. Choose "SUM" which also means total. Below are screenshots to follow to help achieve it correctly.

Fifth Step: After selecting "SUM" you will notice in the "Formula" box that it says "=SUM()" The purpose of this is to find the columns above from your cursor in the sixth row. So, inside of the paratheses "( )", you will type in ABOVE. And then, click "OK." Doing this total up the numbers in the left-hand columns and after clicking OK, the total will appear in the sixth column on the left-hand side. Below are screenshots to make it easier to follow along.

You did it!! You have completed the steps to total a column. If I were you, to help your viewer understand what the bottom left-hand column number means, I would type in "Total" in the last row on the right side. Below is a finished product.