Learn how to subtract in Excel efficiently with this comprehensive guide. Discover essential Excel subtraction formulas, functions, and shortcuts to enhance your spreadsheet skills and streamline data management tasks.

Whether you’re handling financial data, calculating differences, or analyzing trends, mastering the Excel subtraction formula is a fundamental skill that will boost your productivity and accuracy. This guide covers how to subtract in Excel multiple cells, how to subtract in Excel using formulas, and how to subtract in Excel for entire columns. Get in to become an Excel subtraction pro and simplify your data operations today!

Excel Subtraction Formula

Subtracting two numbers is a common operation. Excel does not have a “subtract” button or function. You can use the Minus sign (-) instead. We’ll show you how to use Excel to extract numbers, cells, percentages, dates, and times using simple and easy formulas.

How to Use the SUBTRACT Function in Excel

Excel has no SUBTRACT function for subtraction. Subtracting two integers requires the minus sign (-).

=number1-number2

To enter the formula in your worksheet, do the following:

Step 1: Type (=) sign in cell

Type the equal sign (=) in the cell.

Step 2: Type formula like Value1-Value2

Type the first number, then the minus sign, and after that second number.

Step 3: Press the enter button

Press the Enter key to apply the formula.

Press the enter button

How to Subtract Cells in Excel

Step 1: Type the equals sign (=)

Start your formula in the cell where you want to output the difference by typing the equals sign (=).

Type the equals sign (=)

Step 2: Click on the cell containing a number

Select the cell containing the minuend by clicking on it.

Click on the cell containing a number

Step 3: Type a minus sign (-).

Insert the negative sign (-) after the quantity you want to subtract.

Step 4: Choose the cell with the number to subtract

Click on the cell containing the number to be subtracted to include it in the calculation.

Step 5: Press the Enter to apply

Press the Enter key to complete your formula

How to Subtract Multiple Cells from One Cell in Excel

You may use three methods to subtract multiple cells from the same cell.

Method 1: Minus sign

To subtract cells A2–A5 from A1, use this formula.

=A1-A2-A3-A4-A5

Insert the formula “=A1-A2-A3-A4-A5”

Preview Result

Press “Enter”to obtain the result

You have successfully subtracted multiple cells from one cell in Excel using the minus function.

Method 2: SUM function

Use the result function to add the subtrahends (A2:A5), then deduct the result from the minuend (A1) to make your calculation more compact.

=A3-SUM(A2:A5)

Enter the formula “=A3-SUM(A4:A6)”

Preview Result

Press “Enter”to obtain the result

You have successfully subtracted multiple cells from one cell in Excel using the SUM function.

Method 3: Sum negative numbers

Insert a minus sign before every value you want to remove, and then use the SUM function to sum up all the negative numbers.

=SUM(A3:A6)

You have successfully subtracted multiple cells from one cell in Excel by doing the sum of negative numbers.

How to Subtract Columns in Excel

To subtract two columns row-by-row:

Step 1: Type minus formula =B3-A6

Write a minus formula:

=B3-A6

for the topmost cell and press enter.

Step 2: Click the plus sign or Drag to fill formula

Either double-click the addition sign or drag the fill handle to select the rows.

Step 3: Column has a formula

Use of relative cell reference to make the formula adjust properly for each row

Note: Because of the usage of relative cell references, the formula will automatically modify for each row.

How to Subtract a Value from an Entire Column in Excel

Sure, here’s a simplified version without the step headings:

Step 1: Select the number to subtract

To subtract a number, you must first choose that number.

Step 2: Select the cell destination

Select the cell to display the results, such as cell C2.

Step 3: Enter =A3-$B$3 in cell C3.

Type =A3-$B$3 in cell.

This formula subtracts the number in cell B3 from the number in cell A3.

You have successfully Subtracted a Value from an Entire Column in Excel.

How to Subtract Percentages in Excel

Excel makes it simple to subtract two percentages. Following are detailed steps for using each way to subtract percentages in Excel:

Method 1: Direct Subtraction

Step 1: Enter the Formula

Type the formula like =A% – B%

In the desired cell, type the formula to subtract one percentage from another directly.

Step 2: Press Enter

Press the Enter key to execute the formula and obtain the result. Check the cell to ensure the direct subtraction is reflected in the result

Method 2: Subtract the Percentage of different Cells

Step 1: Enter the Percentage value in the cell

Enter the percentage value in separate cells to subtract.

Step 2: Type =A2 – B2

Use the minus sign to subtract the percentages in a new cell.

Step 3: Confirm subtraction

Check the cell to make sure the subtraction was done correctly.

Method 3: Subtracting Percentage from a Number

Step 1: Separate the number and percentage to subtract.

Separate the total amount to be subtracted from the total in two separate cells, for example, A2 and B2.

Step 2: Apply Formula =A3 * (1 – B3)

Cut the number by the specified percentage in a new cell using the formula =A3 * (1 – B3) OR you can type the cell number containing values like

= A3*(C3-B3)

Step 3: Check the result

Verify the cell to see if the given percentage has been subtracted from the number.

Method 4: Using Absolute Reference for Percentage

Step 1: Enter a number (A3) and a percentage (B3).

Put the % in cell B3 and the number into cell A3.

Step 2: Enter the formula =A3 * (1 – $B$3)

Enter formula =A3 * (1 – $B$3) in a new cell

This guarantees that the percentage is an absolute reference.

Step 3: Press enter and check the result

After entering the formula press Enter for result.

How to Subtract Dates in Excel

The easy way to subtract dates in Excel is to enter them in cells and subtract one cell from the other:

Step 1: Enter the two dates in different cells

Enter the dates to subtract in separate cells, for example, A1 and B1.

Enter the two dates in different cells

Step 2: Select the cell destination

Choose the cell where you want the result to appear.

Select the cell destination

Step 3: Type =B2-A2 in cell and Press Enter.

After selecting the cell type =B1-A1. Change real cell references for B1 and A1. The formula executed by pressing the Enter key. Excel calculates and displays the Difference in the selected cell.

You have successfully learned to subtract Dates in Excel.

How to Subtract Time in Excel

The formula for subtracting time in Excel is simple:

=End_time – Start_time

Step 1: Find the cells with the times to subtract.

Select the cells containing the time value.

Step 2: Select a cell where you want the result to appear.

Select the cell destination where you want the result to appear.

Step 3: Type =A3 -B3 and Press Enter

Type =A3 -B3 into the cell that you chose. Substitute the given cell references for the first and second times into Time1.

You have successfully learned to Subtract Time in Excel.

How to do Matrix Subtraction in Excel

You want to take matched numbers from each table of two sets set up like tables. Here’s how to do it in Excel.

Step 1: Select empty cells matching table size

Click on a group of empty cells that match the size of your tables.

empty cells matching table size

Step 2: Type =A3:D5 – F3:I5

In the selected cells, type this formula: =A3:D5 – F3:I5

type =A3:D5 – F3:I5

Step 3: Press Ctrl + Shift and then Enter

Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to complete the procedure. Curly braces around the formula will indicate it’s an array formula.

You have successfully learned to do Matrix Subtraction in Excel.

How to Subtract a Text String in Excel

Subtracting text from one cell to another is a very common work. This has many potential applications, including data extraction and text comparison calculations.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel

Open the Microsoft Excel in your computer.

Step 2: Select the cells with text.

To subtract text from a cell, first find the cell containing the text. Press Ctrl again; choose another cell with the text you wish to remove.

Step 3: Use =SUBSTITUTE(A2, B2, “”).

Copy the textual content from Cell B and place it at the quit of what you want Use the SUBSTITUTE technique.

Step 4: Press Enter, check the result

Press Enter and look at the answer when you finish the SUBSTITUTE Formula.

Selected text is subtracted from list.

Conclusion

Mastering subtraction in Excel through various methods can significantly enhance your data processing and analysis capabilities. Whether you’re working with numbers, dates, times, percentages, or even text, Excel offers versatile tools to handle subtraction effectively.

How to Subtract in Excel – FAQs

How do I subtract numbers in Excel?

To subtract numbers in Excel, use the minus sign (-) between the numbers. For example, =10 - 5 will give you the result 5.

Can I subtract cells in Excel?

Yes, you can subtract cells in Excel. Click on the cell where you want the result, type =, click on the first cell (minuend), type -, click on the second cell (subtrahend), and press Enter. For example, =A1 - B1.

How do I subtract multiple cells from one cell in Excel?

To subtract multiple cells from one cell, use the formula =A1 - A2 - A3 - A4 - A5 or use the SUM function for a compact formula: =A1 - SUM(A2:A5).

How do I subtract columns in Excel?

To subtract two columns row-by-row, type =B1 - A1 in the first cell of the result column, press Enter, and drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other cells.

How can I subtract a fixed value from an entire column in Excel?

To subtract a fixed value from an entire column, enter the value in a cell (e.g., B1). In the result column, type =A1 - $B$1, press Enter, and drag the fill handle to apply the formula to other cells.

How do I subtract percentages in Excel?

To subtract one percentage from another, use the formula =A1 - B1. To subtract a percentage from a number, use =A1 * (1 - B1).

How do I subtract dates in Excel?

To subtract dates in Excel, enter the dates in separate cells (e.g., A1 and B1), type =B1 - A1 in the result cell, and press Enter. This will give you the difference in days.

How can I subtract time in Excel?

To subtract time, enter the start time and end time in separate cells. In the result cell, type =End_time - Start_time and press Enter.

How do I perform matrix subtraction in Excel?

To perform matrix subtraction, select an empty range of cells matching the size of your matrices, type =A1:D5 - F1:I5, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

How do I subtract text strings in Excel?

To remove specific text from a cell, use the SUBSTITUTE function. For example, =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "text_to_remove", "") will remove the specified text from cell A1.