Choose the number of required conditions

SUMIF adds values according to one criterion, while SUMIFS is designed for multiple criteria. The source emphasizes that moving between them involves more than adding a letter to the function name. SUMIF starts with the tested range and condition, with an optional summation range; SUMIFS uses a different argument arrangement. Check the syntax deliberately rather than editing an existing formula by assumption.

Describe how the conditions relate

The article explores conditional totals using both AND and OR logic. Decide whether every condition must be satisfied or whether several alternatives should qualify before building the calculation. A formula can return a sensible-looking number while applying the wrong logical relationship. Keep the tested ranges and summed values aligned, and verify the result against a small group of records whose expected total can be checked directly.

Check Argument Order When Moving from SUMIF to SUMIFS