Calculate running totals from a starting value and a sequence of numbers. Enter values separated by commas, spaces or new lines to see every cumulative sum, step-by-step calculations and a final running total.
Enter an optional starting value and then provide the numbers you want to add sequentially.
A cumulative sum, also called a running total, is a sequence of totals calculated by adding each new value to the total obtained from all previous values.
For example, starting with zero and using the values 5, 10, -3 and 8, the cumulative totals are:
The resulting running-total sequence is therefore 5, 15, 12, 20.
Important: A cumulative sum is different from calculating only the final total. It preserves every intermediate total, making it useful for analyzing how a sequence changes over time.
If the starting value is S and the sequence of values is x₁, x₂, x₃, ..., xₙ , then the cumulative totals are calculated as:
Each cumulative value includes the starting value and every number that appeared before it in the sequence.
Suppose the starting value is 1000 and the numbers are:
The running totals are:
The final cumulative total is therefore 930.
Running totals are useful whenever the effect of individual values needs to be tracked throughout a sequence.
A cumulative sum can track the balance of a budget as income and expenses occur over time. Positive values can represent income while negative values can represent expenses.
Cumulative calculations can be used to examine how observations accumulate across an ordered dataset.
Running totals can show how sales, revenue, costs or other business measurements accumulate over a sequence of days, weeks or months.
Cumulative sums are commonly used in spreadsheet calculations. The results from this calculator can be copied as comma-separated values for use in Excel or other spreadsheet applications.
Summe.org provides several specialized calculators for sums, sequences and related mathematical operations.
Cumulative sums are also closely related to many mathematical sequences and number-theory calculations. Instead of calculating only one sum, a cumulative calculation generates a sequence of partial sums.
If you are exploring integer properties, you can also use Summe.org tools for prime factorization , greatest common divisors , least common multiples and integer partitions .
A running total is the cumulative sum of values processed in sequence. After each new value is added, the updated total becomes the next running total.
Yes. Enter any numeric starting value. The calculator adds the first input number to that starting value and continues calculating the running totals.
Yes. Negative numbers are supported. They reduce the cumulative total when they are added to the previous running total.
You can separate numbers using commas, spaces or line breaks. For example:
or:
Yes. The calculator provides the cumulative totals as comma-separated values. You can copy them and paste them into Excel, Google Sheets or another spreadsheet application.
A regular sum usually returns one final total. A cumulative sum returns the intermediate totals after each value is added, allowing you to see how the total changes throughout the sequence.
Summe.org provides specialized online calculators for summation, series, calculus, algebra and number theory. You can continue with the Sigma Calculator for sigma notation, Sum of a Series Calculator for structured series, Consecutive Sum Finder for consecutive integer representations, or the Limit Calculator for calculus limits.
For algebraic calculations, try the System of Equations Solver . For number theory, explore the Prime Factorization Calculator , GCD Calculator and LCM Calculator .