Alt+= might be the most used shortcut in finance. It’s the first thing Windows Excel users miss on a Mac.
The built-in answer
Excel for Mac has its own AutoSum shortcut:
Command-Shift-TSelect the cell below a column of numbers, or to the right of a row, and press it. Excel suggests the range, and you press Return to accept. It works from any ribbon tab.
What it looks like
Here’s how it behaved on small test ranges in a blank workbook:
| Numbers | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10, 20, 30 in a column above | =SUM(A1:A3) |
60 |
| 4, 5 in a row to the left | =SUM(C6:D6) |
9 |
Check the suggested range
AutoSum makes a guess. A blank row can cut the range short, and a year in a header is a number too, so it may get included. Look at the highlighted range before you press Return.
Keeping the Windows habit
Command-Shift-T is fine, but my fingers still want Alt+=. So I added it to KeyTips, my Mac app for Windows-style shortcuts. Option-= sends Excel’s own AutoSum shortcut, or you can tap Option and then press =.
Because it uses Excel’s built-in shortcut, it behaves just like the real thing, and it works without switching tabs.