How to Sum If a Cell Contains Specific Text in Google Sheets
Type =SUMIF(A2:A,"*apple*",B2:B) to add up every value in B whose row contains the word "apple" anywhere in column A.
=SUMIF(A2:A,"*apple*",B2:B)
The asterisks are wildcards — *apple* matches the text if it appears anywhere in the cell, not just an exact match.
How it works
SUMIF supports wildcards inside the criterion: * stands for any run of characters and ? for a single character. Wrapping your keyword in asterisks turns an exact match into a contains match. To reference a keyword typed in another cell, join it with asterisks: "*"&D2&"*". For more than one condition, switch to SUMIFS.
Variations
Contains text from another cell
=SUMIF(A2:A,"*"&D2&"*",B2:B)
Matches whatever keyword is typed in D2.
Starts with the text
=SUMIF(A2:A,"apple*",B2:B)
Only the trailing asterisk means "begins with".
Contains text AND meets a second rule
=SUMIFS(B2:B,A2:A,"*apple*",C2:C,">10")
SUMIFS adds more criteria pairs.
Examples
| Scenario | Formula |
|---|---|
| Total sales of any 'Pro' plan | =SUMIF(A2:A,"*Pro*",B2:B) |
| Total for a keyword typed in D2 | =SUMIF(A2:A,"*"&D2&"*",B2:B) |
FAQ
Why does SUMIF ignore my keyword?
Without wildcards SUMIF needs an exact match. Wrap the word in asterisks: "*apple*" to match it anywhere in the cell.
How do I sum if a cell contains one of several words?
Add two SUMIFs: =SUMIF(A2:A,"*apple*",B2:B)+SUMIF(A2:A,"*pear*",B2:B), or use SUMPRODUCT with REGEXMATCH for many words.
Is the match case-sensitive?
No, SUMIF wildcard matching ignores case. Use a REGEXMATCH-based SUMPRODUCT if you need case sensitivity.