Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Merging Cells to a Single Sum.

Merging Cells to a Single Sum

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 12, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

As you analyze your data in a worksheet, one common task is to look for ways to simplify the amount of data need to work with. One way to do this is to "merge" several consecutive cells together in an Excel worksheet, leaving only the sum of the original cells as a value. For instance, if you have values in the range B3:F3, how would you collapse the range into a single cell that contains just the sum of that range?

The easiest way I have found to accomplish this task is as follows:

  1. Select the cell just to the right of the range you want to collapse. (In the above example, you would select cell G3.)
  2. In this cell, enter a SUM formula that adds up the range. For instance, the cell could contain the formula =SUM(B3:F3).
  3. Copy this formula down to other cells, if necessary.
  4. Select all the cells that contain the SUM formula.
  5. Press Ctrl+C to copy the cells to the Clipboard. The cells should all still be selected.
  6. Choose Paste Special from the Edit. Excel displays the Paste Special dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    7. Figure 1. The Paste Special dialog box.

  7. Make sure the Values option is chosen.
  8. Click on OK.
  9. Delete the original range of cells. (For example, B3:F3.)

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3026) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Merging Cells to a Single Sum.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Converting Cells to Proper Case

When storing text in a worksheet, you may have a need to change the case of that text so that the initial letter in each ...

Discover More

Resetting Toolbars to Their Default

Once you've edited your toolbars, you may want to change them back to their default appearance and behavior. This tip ...

Discover More

Making Text Boxes Appear in a Printout

Add some text boxes to your document, and you might be surprised if they don't appear when you print the document. If ...

Discover More

Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Forcing Input to Uppercase

If you type information into a workbook, you may want to make sure that what you type is always stored in uppercase. ...

Discover More

Highlighting the Rows of Selected Cells

If you lose your place on the screen quite often, you might find it helpful to have not just a single cell highlighted, ...

Discover More

Converting Text to Values

When you import information originating in a different program, Excel may not do the best job at figuring out what ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 3 + 2?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.