Why is the SUM formula adding numbers incorrectly?

Question

Why is the SUM formula adding numbers incorrectly?

Andrea 0

Hello,

When I use the sum formula to add a group of cells, it is calculating the total as $18,821.09. If I highlight those same cells with my cursor, the sum provided along the bottom bar is $16,401.38. If I use the formula "=cell+cell+cell...etc" for that exact same set of numbers, it also totals $16,401.38. I have copied and pasted these selections as text only, I have checked that format for all of them is listed as "Number" but the =sum formula is giving the incorrect number every single time. This has been extremely frustrating and has wasted a lot of my time trying to find the error before realizing it was the actual formula messing up.

I've attached a screenshot showing the group on the left using the sum, the group on the right using the cell+cell, and highlighting the first columns numbers to show the sum given at the bottom of the page.

I have also closed and reopened the excel sheet and restarted my computer. Nothing has fixed this error with the sum formula.

Is the sum formula a known issue that is being worked on?

Excel sum incorrect

Andrea 0 Reputation points

2026-03-06T23:49:19.4+00:00

I'm adding an additional screenshot to show that the sum formula is grabbing the correct cells that I want added.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-06T23:57:00.2433333+00:00

Maybe some rows are hidden?
riny 21,520 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-03-07T06:41:08.6833333+00:00

@Andrea

N6:N9 contains 4 cells (N6, N7, N8 and N9) whereas your picture only shows three cells. Same for N14:N17 and N21:N24.

Thus, some (or all) of these ranges contain hidden rows with values. Unhide and remove the values you don't want/need. Note that hidden cells are excluded from the statistics in the bottom of the Excel window.
Andrea 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T20:56:50.57+00:00

I did not realize that hidden cells were excluded from the stats at the bottom. That was really throwing me off when the bottom was showing sum correctly.

Your answer

Andrea 0 Reputation points

2026-03-06T23:49:19.4+00:00

I'm adding an additional screenshot to show that the sum formula is grabbing the correct cells that I want added.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2026-03-06T23:57:00.2433333+00:00

Maybe some rows are hidden?
riny 21,520 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-03-07T06:41:08.6833333+00:00

@Andrea

N6:N9 contains 4 cells (N6, N7, N8 and N9) whereas your picture only shows three cells. Same for N14:N17 and N21:N24.

Thus, some (or all) of these ranges contain hidden rows with values. Unhide and remove the values you don't want/need. Note that hidden cells are excluded from the statistics in the bottom of the Excel window.
Andrea 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T20:56:50.57+00:00

I did not realize that hidden cells were excluded from the stats at the bottom. That was really throwing me off when the bottom was showing sum correctly.