Beginner learning path

Excel Formulas for Beginners

Start learning Excel formulas with the essential functions, examples, and troubleshooting steps every beginner needs.

Start with these core formulas

  • Use SUM for totals, AVERAGE for typical values, COUNT for numeric counts, and COUNTA when you need to count filled cells.
  • Use IF to make decisions in a spreadsheet, such as pass/fail, paid/unpaid, or over/under target.
  • Use XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP to retrieve values from a table without manually scanning rows.

Beginner mistakes to avoid

  • Always start formulas with an equals sign and close every parenthesis you open.
  • Check whether numbers are stored as text before blaming the formula.
  • Use absolute references like $A$1 when a formula should keep pointing to the same cell after copying.