Basic MS Excel formulas

This is basic learning paper of MS Excel. It is a widely daily use for office work and routine life.  This is only as basic guidance for start of MS Excel learning. It is developing by Microsoft.

What is the MS Excel?

The MS Excel is a software made by Microsoft. It helps to manage or analysis data. It can calculate Sum, Subtraction, multiplication, division and can analyses data by graphic. We can make easily documents which have calculations like Invoice monthly budget, statement etc. It can also use for complex calculation and statistical tests

It fast processing tools and can save retrieve, make changes.

How work Excel formulas.

Basically excel sheet showing cells and every cell have its own id. We add values in cells and MS Excel calculate as per formulas

Example    =Sum(A2+B1)  It will  shows total of cell A1 and B1.

Before looking at the MS Excel formulas list, you must know how to apply a formula in Excel.

Other simple formulas as below.

1. SUM Formula in Excel

The sum formula in Excel is one of the most useful excel formulas because it adds numbers quickly.

Example: =A1+A2+A3+A4+A5  

This formula in excel sum all cells from A1 to A5.

Example: =SUM(A1:A5) 

This formula in excel adds all values from A1 to A5.

2. AVERAGE Formula (How to Calculate Average in Excel)

This formula helps you find the average of numbers.

Example:=AVERAGE(B1:B5)

3. MIN Formula

This excel formula finds the smallest number.

Example: =MIN(C1:C10)

4. MAX Formula

This formula finds the biggest number.

Example:=MAX(D1:D10)

5. COUNT Formula

This excel formula counts how many cells have numbers.

Example: =COUNT(E1:E20)

6. COUNTA Formula

This formula counts text and numbers both.

Example: =COUNTA(A1:A20)

7. CONCATENATE in Excel (Text Join)

You can join two or more text values using concatenate in excel.

Example: =CONCATENATE("Hello ","Dear")

Used in daily work to join names, IDs, etc.

8. IF Formula in Excel

This is one of the most important excel formulas for decision making.

Example: =IF(A1>50,"Left","Right")

9. DATE Formula in Excel

This formula creates a date from a year, month, and day.

Example:=DATE(2025,1,15)

10. TODAY Formula

It gives today’s date.   =TODAY()

11. NOW Formula

It gives date + time.   =NOW()

12. TRIM Formula  

This excel formula removes extra spaces from text.

Example: =TRIM(A1)

13. LEN Formula

It counts the number of characters in a cell.

Example: =LEN(A1)

14. LEFT Formula

This formula gives characters from the left side.

=LEFT(A1,3)

15. RIGHT Formula

This formula gives characters from the right side.

=RIGHT(A1,4)

16. MID Formula

This formula picks text from the middle.

=MID(A1,2,3)

17. LOWER Formula

Changes text to lowercase.

=LOWER(A1)

18. UPPER Formula

Changes text to uppercase.

=UPPER(A1)

19. PROPER Formula

Makes every word start with a capital letter.

=PROPER(A1)

20. VLOOKUP Formula in Excel

The VLOOKUP formula is one of the most popular Excel formulas and functions. It helps you find data from a table.

Example: =VLOOKUP(A2, A2:D10, 3, FALSE)

If you search “how to use VLOOKUP in Excel,” this is the most common example.

You can use VLookup Excel to match ID, name, price, product details, and much more.

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21. HLOOKUP Formula

Similar to VLOOKUP, but works horizontally.

=HLOOKUP(A1, A1:F5, 2, FALSE)

22. SUMIF Formula

Adds numbers based on a condition.

=SUMIF(A1:A10,"Apple",B1:B10)

23. COUNTIF Formula

Counts items based on a condition.

=COUNTIF(A1:A20,"Yes")

24. SUMPRODUCT Formula

This advanced excel formula multiplies values and adds the results.

=SUMPRODUCT(A1:A5, B1:B5)

25. Pivot Table in Excel

A pivot table in excel helps you summarize large data.

You can create totals, averages, categories, reports, and more in seconds.

It is one of the most useful excel formulas and advanced excel tools.

26. Conditional Formatting in Excel

This feature helps highlight data such as:

• Highlight values greater than 50

• Show duplicates

• Color cells based on rules

It does not use a single Excel formula, but it uses logic to format data automatically.

27. Excel Shortcut Keys

To be a pro, you need to stop using the mouse. Excel shortcut keys save time. Here are essential shortcut keys in excel:

Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V: Copy and Paste.

Ctrl + Z: Undo action.

Ctrl + S: Save the workbook.

Ctrl + A: Select all data.

Alt + =: AutoSum (Quick sum formula in excel).

Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Navigate to the end of data.

Ctrl + Shift + L: Turn on Filters.

F2: Edit the selected cell.

F4: Repeat last action or lock cell reference ($).

Ctrl + Page Up/Down: Switch between sheets.

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