How to Sum Values in a Range Containing Redundant Spaces in Excel

In this article, we will learn How to Sum Values in a Range Containing Redundant Spaces in Excel.

Array formulas to get the sum of Numbers

In Excel many times, we need to apply the mathematical operations like SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, MIN or MAX applied over the range of values having criteria. Here the condition is that the cell contains spaces. The spaces with numbers makes it read as text. And text values are either ignored or counted as 0 with mathematical operators. Here we will remove all the spaces with formula and return the sum of values.

Array sum formula with spaces in numbers in Excel

Here for the purpose we use SUM, VALUE and SUBSTITUTE function for the range of values to sum. Array formula takes an array and returns the array to the subsequent function till a mathematical operation is performed.

formula:

{ =SUM(VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(range," ",""))) }

{ } : curly braces shows this is an array formula.

range : list of numbers to sum.

SUM : sum function sums up all the values.

Note : Do Not use the curly braces manually. Just use the formula without braces and use Ctrl + Shift + Enter in place of using Enter.

Example :

All of these might be confusing to understand. Let's understand how to use the function using an example. Here The numbers in column C contain redundant spaces.

If we try to calculate a total using the SUM function, 229 is returned which is definitely not correct. So we use our formula and see what happens

Use the formula:

{=SUM(VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(A2:A4," ","")))}

As you can see the formula returns 500 which is the correct result.

This is an array formula so careful while applying the formula.

Here are all the observational notes using the formula in Excel
Notes :

The formula only works with only to look up the exact match.
The SUMPRODUCT function considers non-numeric values as 0s.
The SUMPRODUCT function considers logic value TRUE as 1 and False as 0.
The argument array must be the same size else the function returns an error.
SUMPRODUCT function returns the value corresponding to the TRUE values in the returned array after taking individual products in the corresponding array.
Operators like equals to ( = ), less than ( < ), less than equal to ( <= ), greater than ( > ), greater than equal to ( >= ) or not equals to ( <> ) can be performed within a formula applied, with numbers only.

Hope this article about How to Sum Values in a Range Containing Redundant Spaces in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on summing number and related Excel formulas here.

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