How to Use Excel SUMIF with Blank Cells (3 Easy Methods)

This article illustrates how to use the SUMIF function to sum up values corresponding to blank or empty cells in Excel. Even though blank cells are usually considered insignificant, they can sometimes provide valuable information in a dataset. If this is the case, it may be required to sum the data for these cells. To learn how to perform this, read the article carefully.

Use Excel SUMIF with Blank Cells: 3 Easy Methods

In this section, we will demonstrate 3 effective methods of using the SUMIF function to sum up values corresponding to blank cells or empty cells in Excel with appropriate illustrations. For example, let’s take a dataset where a charitable organization named Save the Poor has a list of donations.

Here, in the column of Donor Name, the blank cells represent those donors who don’t want to expose their names while donating. Now, we are interested in calculating the total anonymous donation, which means to sum up the Donation Amounts next to blank cells. To do that, we can use the following methods.

1. Summing Up Total Run of Unnamed Players

We can use the following formula, consisting of the SUMIF function, to sum up the donation amount corresponding to the blank cells.

After clicking Enter, you should see the following results.

2. Summing Up Pseudo Blank Cells Using Trim Function and Helper Column

Sometimes we need to sum up values corresponding to cells that look blank or empty, but in reality, they contain white spaces. It can happen due to improper data extraction from other sources into Excel. For illustration, here we introduce some white spaces in the first two of three blank cells that we saw in the previous example. Hence, the SUMIF function will only take the last truly blank cell and display 100 as a result.

Hence, to correct the result, we need to trim the whitespace using the TRIM function and store the result in a separate Helper Column.

In the above picture, we can see that we have used the TRIM function in cell C5 to remove the white spaces from both ends of the text (leading and trailing spaces).

Now, we use the Fill Handle feature to autofill the rest of the cells from C6 to C14.

Now, we apply the SUMIF function while using the Helper Column as the criteria range in cell F5.

As a result, we will get our desired result, which is 550.

Alternative: Summing Up Pseudo Blank Cells Without Helper Column

If you are not a fan of using the helper column, you can use the following formula consisting of the SUMPRODUCT, LEN, and TRIM functions to sum up the cells corresponding to all pseudo blank cells.

Consequently, you will get the same result.

3. Use of VBA SUMIF to Sum Cells Corresponding to Blank Cells

Many users prefer to use VBA to perform a task. In this example, we will apply VBA code to sum cells corresponding to blank cells in cell E5 in Excel that we have shown in the first example.

Now, to use the VBA code, follow the steps below.

Steps:

• Open the VBA Editor by clicking ALT+F11.

• Now, click the left button on the mouse on the sheet name to open the sheet module.

• Now, write the following code.

VBA Code Syntax:

Sub Sum_Blank()
Range("E5").Value = Application.WorksheetFunction.SumIf(Range("B5:B14"), "", Range("C5:C14"))
End Sub

• Now, run the code by clicking F5. As a result, you will see the desired result on cell E5.

Sum Values Based on Non-Blank Cells

If you want to sum cells corresponding to non-blank cells from the dataset that we have used in the 1st example, you can do that only by slightly modifying the formula like this below.

As a result, you will get the desired result.

Read More: How to Use SUMIF Function to Sum Not Blank Cells in Excel

Excel Sum Blank Cells As Zero

On occasion, instead of displaying the result of a sum as 0, it may be more practical to display the result as a blank cell in Excel. In this section, we will learn how to display zero sum results as blank cells in Excel. For illustration, suppose we have four columns, and in the bottom cells, their sums are calculated.

Here, we can see that B14 and E14 have 0 sum values. Now, our target is to display them as blank cells. To do that, follow the steps below.

Steps:

• Select the bottom row or the cells where you want to change the display format. Then right-click on the mouse. As a result, a context menu will appear. From the context menu, click on Format Cells.

• Now, a new window named Format Cells will appear. From the menu, click on Custom from the category tab in the left corner. Then on the Type bar, write General;General;;@ . Finally, click OK.

• As a result, you will see that the cells that contain 0 are being displayed as blank cells.

Things to Remember

• Be aware whether your dataset contains any white spaces or pseudo blank cells. If that is the case, then use the 2nd method.
• For a clean dataset without pseudo blank cells, you can apply the 1st and 3rd methods to do your task.

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.

Conclusion

This concludes the article on the use of the SUMIF function to sum data corresponding to blank cells in Excel. If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Finally, please visit Exceldemy for more interesting Excel articles.

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