Sum bottom n values or top n values in Excel

In this article, we will learn how to sum up top or bottom N values given array of numbers in Excel. If you want to sum top 4, top 5 or top N values in a given range, this article will help do so.

Sum of TOP N values

For this article we will be required to use the SUMPRODUCT function. Now we will make a formula out of these functions. Here we are given a range and we need to top 5 values in range and get the sum of the values.

Generic formula:

range: range of values

Values : numbers separated using the commas like if you wish to find the top 3 values, use { 1 , 2 , 3 }. 

Example: Sum Top 5 Values of Range

Let's test this formula via running it on the example shown below.

Here we have a range of values from A1:A23.

The range A1:A23 contains values and it is named as values.

Firstly, we need to find the top five values using the LARGE function and then sum operation be performed over those 5 values. Now we will use the following formula to get the sum of top 5 values.

Use the Formula:

Explanation:

• LARGE function returns the top 5 numerical values and returns the array to the SUMPRODUCT function.

= SUMPRODUCT ( { 149 , 123 , 100 , 87 , 85 } ) )

• SUMPRODUCT function gets an array of top 5 values to sum up.

Here the range is given as the named range. Press Enter to get the SUM of top 5 numbers.

As you can see in the above snapshot, that sum is 544. The sum of the values 149 + 123 + 100 + 87 + 85 = 544.

The above process is used to calculate the sum of a few numbers from the top. But to calculate for n (large) number of values in a long range.

Use the formula:

Here we generate sum of top 10 values via getting an array of 1 to 10 { 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8 ; 9 ; 10 } using the ROW & INDIRECT Excel functions.

Here we got the sum of the top 10 numbers { 149 ; 123 ; 100 ; 87 ; 85 ; 82 ; 61 ; 58 ; 54 ; 51 }) which results in 850.

Sum of Bottom N values

How to solve the problem?

Generic formula:

Range: range of values

Values : numbers separated using the commas like if you wish to find the bottom 3 values, use { 1 , 2 , 3 }.

Example:

All of these might be confusing to understand. So, let's test this formula via running it on the example shown below.

Here we have a range of values from A1:A23.

Here is the range that is given using the named range excel tool.

Firstly, we need to find the bottom five values using the SMALL function and then sum operation be performed over those 5 values. Now we will use the following formula to get the sum
Use the Formula:

Explanation:

• SMALL function returns the bottom 5 numerical values and returns the array to the SUMPRODUCT function.

= SUMPRODUCT ( { 23 , 27 , 28 , 28 , 30 } ) )

• SUMPRODUCT function gets an array of bottom 5 values to sum up.

Here the range is given as the named range. Press Enter to get the SUM of the bottom 5 numbers.

As you can see in the above snapshot that sum is 136. The sum of the values 23 + 27 + 28 + 28 + 30 = 136.

The above process is used to calculate the sum of a few numbers from the bottom. But to calculate for n (large) number of values in a long range.

Use the formula:

Here we generate sum of bottom 10 values via getting an array of 1 to 10 { 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8 ; 9 ; 10 } using the ROW & INDIRECT Excel functions.

Here we have the sum of the bottom 10 numbers which will result in 307.

Here are some observational notes shown below.

Notes:

1. The formula only works with numbers.
2. The formula only works when there are no duplicates on the lookup table
3. The SUMPRODUCT function considers non - numeric values ( like text abc ) and error values ( like #NUM! , #NULL! )  as null values.
4. The SUMPRODUCT function considers logic value TRUE as 1 and False as 0.
5. The argument array must be of the same length as the function.

Hope this article about how to Return Sum of top n values or bottom n values in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on SUMPRODUCT functions here. Please share your query below in the comment box. We will assist you.

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