How do I sum up values that are linked to a category from a drop down list?

Question

Hi,

Im trying to tally items up but im having trouble with getting a formula. I created a drop down list of expenses (i.e. beer, food, repairs, misc) and then in the next column is the dollar amount. I am trying to add up all of the "food" expense totals for the month. im sorry. i tried to attach a screenshot but it keeps failing to upload.

Answer 1

Hi, do you have some more information about your table? Like:

1. Location of the Dropdown List:
   • Which column contains the dropdown (e.g., Column A, or cell A1)?
   • Is the dropdown list directly linked to the "Category" column, or is it somewhere else?
2. Data Range:
   • What are the starting and ending rows of the data (e.g., A2:B100)?
3. Category Selection:
   • Do you want the formula to sum up values dynamically based on a dropdown selection in another cell (e.g., in Column A, or cell A1)?
4. Expected Output:
   • Should the output show totals for one category at a time, or for all categories?

Answer 2

Hi ceecee_345,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I am very interested in writing Excel formulas, so I would like to continue discussing this issue with you and share my thoughts.

You can share your screenshot in the reply, and seeing the screenshot of your worksheet will be very helpful for me to write the formula.

Based on your description, I have a general idea of using the SUMIF function to calculate the sum, but I still need more context to perfect the formula.

Looking forward to your reply!

Best Regards,

Thomas C - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 3

Hi

I think the best solution is to change the data range to an Excel table, then turn on the Total Rows feature.

This link has an overview of the Excel Table feature: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/overview-of-excel-tables-7ab0bb7d-3a9e-4b56-a3c9-6c94334e492c?ns=MACEXCEL&version=90

Answer 4

Hi,

You may create a Pivot Table.