Excel AutoSum Shortcut (Alt+= / ⌘⇧T)
Select the cell just below a column of numbers (or to the right of a row) and press Alt+= on Windows or ⌘⇧T (Command+Shift+T) on the Mac. Excel inserts =SUM() with the range already filled in — press Enter to confirm.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoSum selected range | ⌘⇧T | Alt+= | |
| Confirm the formula | Return | Enter | |
| Sum multiple columns at once | Select range + ⌘⇧T | Select range + Alt+= |
Let Excel guess the range
Click the empty cell directly below a column of numbers (or immediately to the right of a row) and press Alt+= (Windows) / ⌘⇧T (Mac). Excel inserts =SUM() and auto-selects the adjacent numbers; just press Enter to accept. To total several columns in one go, select the whole row of empty cells beneath them before pressing the shortcut.
Windows vs Mac
Windows uses the mnemonic Alt+= (the = hints at a formula). Excel for Mac has no Alt+=, so it uses ⌘⇧T (Command+Shift+T) for AutoSum instead. Both drop in the same =SUM() with the guessed range.
Filling a pattern down a column instead of summing? Use the Flash Fill shortcut (Ctrl+E).
To drop the SUM result elsewhere as a plain number, use the Paste Values Only shortcut.
Sum a whole column, row, or get an average
To sum an entire column, click the empty cell at the bottom of it and press Alt+= (Windows) or ⌘⇧T (Mac) — AutoSum grabs every number above. For a running average instead of a total, type =AVERAGE( and select the range, or on Windows open the AutoSum dropdown (Alt, H, U, then A) and choose Average. The same dropdown offers Count, Max, and Min without typing a formula. Tidying the header above your totals? Combine the label cells with the Merge Cells shortcut.
FAQ
What is the AutoSum shortcut in Excel?
Press Alt+= on Windows or ⌘⇧T (Command+Shift+T) on the Mac. Excel inserts =SUM() with the nearby range already selected.
What is AutoSum on a Mac?
Excel for Mac uses ⌘⇧T for AutoSum because Alt+= isn't available. Select the cell below your numbers and press it.
Can I sum several columns at once?
Yes. Select the whole row of empty cells beneath the columns, then press Alt+= (Windows) or ⌘⇧T (Mac) to fill a SUM in each.
What is the shortcut to sum a column in Excel?
Click the empty cell below the column and press Alt+= (Windows) or ⌘⇧T (Mac). AutoSum selects all the numbers above and inserts =SUM().
Is there an AutoSum shortcut for Average?
There is no single key for Average, but on Windows press Alt, H, U, then A to pick Average from the AutoSum dropdown — or type =AVERAGE() yourself.