So, make all the numbers you want to subtract negative (for this, simply type a minus sign before a number), and then use the SUM function to add up the negative numbers: To make your formula more compact, add up the subtrahends (B2:B6) using the SUM function, and then subtract the sum from the minuend (B1):Īs you may remember from a math course, subtracting a negative number is the same as adding it. Simply type several cell references separated by a minus sign like we did when subtracting multiple numbers.įor example, to subtract cells B2:B6 from B1, construct a formula in this way: To subtract multiple cells from the same cell, you can use any of the following methods. How to subtract multiple cells from one cell in Excel Press the Enter key to complete your formula.Īnd you will have a result similar to this:.

Click on the cell containing a subtrahend (a number to be subtracted) to add its reference to the formula (B2).Its reference will be added to the formula automatically (A2). Click on the cell containing a minuend (a number from which another number is to be subtracted).In the cell where you want to output the difference, type the equals sign (=) to begin your formula.You do not necessarily have to type cell references manually, you can quickly add them to the formula by selecting the corresponding cells.

The basic Excel subtraction formula is as simple as this:įor example, to subtract the number in B2 from the number in A2, use this formula: To perform a simple subtraction operation, you use the minus sign (-). Subtraction formula in Excel (minus formula)įor the sake of clarity, the SUBTRACT function in Excel does not exist. Subtract text of one cell from another cell.

Now, let's take a look at how you can do all this. You can even subtract matrices, text strings and lists. What kind of things can you subtract in your worksheets? Just any things: numbers, percentages, days, months, hours, minutes and seconds. Subtraction is one of the four basic arithmetic operations, and every primary school pupil knows that to subtract one number from another you use the minus sign. You will also learn how to subtract cells, entire columns, matrices and lists. The tutorial shows how to do subtraction in Excel by using the minus sign and SUM function.

Subtraction formula in excel