Pivot tables make it easy to quickly sum values in various ways. In the example shown, a pivot table is used to sum amounts by color.

Fields

The pivot table shown is based on two fields: Color and Amount . The Color field is configured as a row field, and the Amount field is a value field, as seen below:

Pivot table basic sum field list - 1

The Amount field is configured to Sum:

Value settings for Amount field - 2

You are free to rename “Sum of Name” as you like.

Steps

  1. Create a pivot table
  2. Add a category field the rows area (optional)
  3. Add field to count to Values area
  4. Change value field settings to show sum if needed

Notes

  1. When numeric field is added as a Value field, Excel will display a sum automatically.
  2. Without a Row field, the sum will be the total of all Amounts.

Standard Pivot Tables have a simple feature for creating calculated fields. You can think of a calculated field as a virtual column in the source data. A calculated field will appear in the field list window, but will not take up space in the source data. In the example shown, a calculated field called “Unit Price” has been created with a formula that divides Sales by Quantity. The pivot table displays the calculated unit price for each product in the source data.

Note: data ends on row 18, so the calculation is as follows: $1,006.75 / 739 = $1.36

Fields

The source data contains three fields, Product, Quantity, and Sales. A fourth field called “Unit Price” is a calculated field.

Field list after adding calculated field - 3

The calculated field was created by selecting “Insert Calculated Field” in the “Fields, Items, and Sets” menu on the ribbon:

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://exceljet.net/sites/default/files/images/pivot/inline/pivot%20table%20calculated%20field%20ribbon%20menu.png" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Select “Insert Calculated Field” from this menu - 4”>

The calculated field is named “Unit Price” and defined with the formula “=Sales/Quantity” as seen below:

The Insert Calculated Field window - 5

Note: Field names with spaces must be wrapped in single quotes (’). Excel will add these automatically when you click the Insert Field button, or double-click a field in the list.

The Unit Price field is renamed “Unit Price " (note the extra space) after it has been added to the Values area:

Unit Price value field settings - 6

The extra space is required because Excel won’t allow you to use exactly the same field name that appears in the data in a pivot table.

Steps

  1. Create a pivot table
  2. Create the Calculated field “Unit Price”
  3. Add Unit Price to field to Values area Rename field “Unit Price " Set number format as desired