The Problem
In this guide, we will explore exactly how to calculate running totals in Excel. A plain list of daily numbers shows activity, but it does not show how the total builds over time.
That is why running totals matter. They let you see the accumulated amount after each row, which is useful for sales tracking, balances, inventory movement, and many other kinds of reporting.
In this challenge, you will calculate the running total of daily sales in column C, then complete the summary section with the number of processed rows and the final cumulative amount.
How We Solve It
The most stable pattern is to lock the first value and let the end of the range grow as the formula is copied down. That is why the challenge solution uses a mixed reference inside SUM.
Each new row adds one more day into the same growing range, so the total keeps building naturally from the top of the list.
Method 1: Expanding SUM Range
Method 1: Anchor the start of the range and let the end expand as the formula moves down.
This is the clearest and most common running-total pattern. The start of the range stays fixed at $B$2, while the end changes row by row.
Because of that, row 2 sums just the first sale, row 3 sums the first two sales, and so on until the whole list is included.
=SUM($B$2:B2)
Method 2: Previous Total Plus Current Row
Method 2: Add the current row to the previous running total to create a chain.
Another valid approach is to reference the previous running total and add the current row to it. That creates a chain where each row depends on the row above.
This works, but it can be more fragile if a formula in the chain is overwritten, so the expanding SUM version is often safer.
=C1+B2
Method 3: SUBTOTAL for Filtered Lists
Method 3: Use SUBTOTAL when filtering should affect the visible total.
If the table will be filtered and you want the total to reflect only visible rows, SUBTOTAL is worth knowing.
That is not required for the challenge answer, but it is a useful variation of the same idea.
=SUBTOTAL(9,$B$2:B2)
Function Explanation
1. SUM
SUM adds a range of values. In this challenge, it is used with a growing range so the total expands row by row.
That makes it the main engine behind the running total.
Learn more this functionSUM
2. SUBTOTAL
SUBTOTAL can return sums and other aggregations while respecting filtering rules. It becomes useful when the visible rows are more important than the full raw list.
That is why it is often used in dashboards or filtered reports.
The key detail in the challenge formula is the mixed reference. If the first cell is not locked with dollar signs, the running total will not build correctly from the start of the list.
Build the running total for the daily sales list so each row shows the cumulative amount up to that point. After the running totals are complete, finish the summary section so the worksheet also shows how many transaction rows were processed and what the final cumulative sales total looks like.