Use formulas to calculate numeric values or automate aspects of your sheet. You can create formulas, for example, to sum a range of expenses, or to check a box when a specific value is entered in a field.
PLANS
- Smartsheet
- Pro
- Business
- Enterprise
For more information about plan types and included capabilities, see the Smartsheet Plans page.
Permissions
- Owner
- Admin
- Editor
Find out if this capability is included in Smartsheet Regions or Smartsheet Gov.
Users on an Enterprise plan can use AI to generate formulas. Learn more.
The sheet Owner and Admins can create and edit formulas in locked and unlocked fields. The Owner, Admins, and Editors can create and edit formulas in unlocked fields.
Create a formula
You can create a formula in the following celltypes:
- Cellsnot used fordependencies or resource management. Learn how to enable dependencies and use predecessors.
- Text/Number (as long as they're not used in dependencies or resource management)
- Contact List cells (as long as they're not used in resource management)
- Date (as long as they're not used in dependencies or resource management)
- Dropdown List
- Checkbox
- Symbol
- % Allocation
To place a formula in a cell:
- Select the desired cell.
- Type an equal sign in the cell, and then type the calculation.
- After you’ve typed in your formula, press Enter.
You can now see the result in the cell containing the formula.
You can place formulas in Contact List cells. Automatically assign people to tasks with a VLOOKUP formula, for example. You can’t place formulas in Contact List cells used for resource management.
Functions
Formulas can include functions, such as SUM, AVG, or IF. Smartsheet Functions performs calculations or manipulate data in sheets.
Formula operators
You can use the following operators in Smartsheet formulas.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| + | Add |
| - | Subtract |
| * | Multiply |
| / | Divide |
| ^^ | Exponent |
| < | Less than |
| > | Greater than |
| >= | Greater than or equal to |
| <= | Less than or equal to |
| = | Equal to |
| <> | Not equal to |
Edit an existing formula
To edit an existing formula:
- Double-clickacellcontaining the formula to open it for editing.
- Make your desired formula changes, and then press Enter.
If you change your mind about editing the formula, press the Esc keyto exit edit mode and revert to the pre-edited formula.
Tips for easier formula creation
Use column formulas
When you need a formula applied consistently and uniformly to an entire column,column formulas are the perfect solution. Build your formula in a cell, and quickly convert it to apply to every cell in the column. Regardless of how new rows get inserted into the sheet, the column formula will automatically apply. Learn how to set formulas for all rows with column formulas.
Use the sum tool
If you're not sure which function to use, you can select the down arrow on the right oftheSumbuttonin the toolbar and select a function.
TheSumbutton will attempt to provide you with a formula based on the cell you have selected in the sheetand any hierarchical relationshipswith theselected cell. For example, selecting the cell of a parent row, thenclicking theSumicon will produce a =SUM(CHILDREN()) formula in the cell.
After you create a formula, you can modify it at any time by double-clicking in the selected cellor by pressing F2(fn+ F2on a Mac).
Workwith percentages
Smartsheet treats percentages as values between 0 and 1. When you createformulas in columns formatted for percent (using the 
Percentage Formatbutton in the toolbar), use decimal values. For example...
=0.5 + 0.4
...will return 90% in a column formatted for percentage...
=5 + 4
...will return 900% in a column formatted for percentage.
Copya formula with drag-fill or auto-fill
If you have a formula that you’d like to use in multiple cellswithout having to manually type the formula in each cell, use the following methods to quickly copy the formula to other areas of your sheet:
- Drag-fill—You can drag from the lower-right corner of a selected cell to copy a formula across contiguous cells in the sheet. As you copy, the formula will automatically change its respective cell references.
- Auto-fill—You can have Smartsheet automatically copy a formula to new, vertically adjacent cells that enter the sheet. When auto-filled, the new formula will automatically change its respective cell references.
Learn how todrag-fill and auto-filling formulas and formatting.
Areas where formula use is restricted
These cells can't contain formulas:
- Contact list cells that are being used in resource management
- System cells (for example, Modified By)
- Default columns(attachments, comments, row action indicator)
- The following cellsbeing used for dependencies and resource management:
- Start Date
- End Date
- Duration
- Predecessors
- % Complete
You can't create formulas in these features:
- Forms
- Update requests(You can still view formula results in update requests, but they can't contain standaloneformulas.)
- Reports (You can still view formula results in reports, but they can't contain standaloneformulas.)
- Dashboards (You can still view formula results in dashboards, but dashboards can't contain standaloneformulas.)
You can't edit formulas from the following features in Smartsheet:
- Forms
- Update requests(You can still view formula results in update requests, but the formulas can't be edited.)
- Reports(You can still view formula results in reports, but the formulas can't be edited.)
- Dashboards (You can still view formula results in dashboards, but the formulascan't be edited.)
Still need help?
Use the Formula Handbook template to find more support, resources, view 100+ formulas, a glossary of every function that you can practice working with in real time, and examples of commonly used and advanced formulas.
Find examples of how other Smartsheet customers use this function or ask about your specific use case in the Smartsheet online Community.
Ask the Community
