What is a quick way to get a total for a column of numbers?

The AutoSum feature in Excel is a highly efficient tool for quickly calculating the total of a column of numbers. When you select the cell immediately below a column of numeric data and click the AutoSum button, Excel automatically detects the range of numbers above it. This feature not only speeds up the process of totaling data but also reduces the potential for errors that could occur when manually typing a formula or summing the numbers yourself. Thus, it streamlines the workflow, especially in large datasets, ensuring accuracy and saving valuable time.

In contrast, while using the SUM function directly could achieve the same result, it typically requires entering a formula manually, which may not be as quick as using AutoSum. Manually typing the total is often time-consuming and prone to mistakes, particularly with large datasets, and checking the status bar provides a quick reference but requires no calculations to be performed within the spreadsheet itself. Therefore, for a quick and effective approach to summing a column, AutoSum stands out as the optimal choice.