How to Subtract in Google Sheets (Minus Sign and MINUS)

Subtraction is the sum that runs a small business: stock in minus stock sold, hours booked minus hours used, target minus what you've done so far. Oddly, it's also the one that confuses people in Google Sheets, because there's a SUM function front and centre and no obvious subtract button anywhere.

The answer is that you don't need one. A minus sign does the job, and there's a MINUS function if you prefer words. I'll show both, plus how to take a whole column away from a single number.

Subtracting two cells in Google Sheets with the minus sign

1. Click the empty cell where you want the answer.
2. Type an equals sign.
3. Click the first cell, for example A2.
4. Type a minus sign.
5. Click the second cell, for example B2.
6. Press Enter.

Your cell now reads =A2-B2 and shows the result. Google's help says that when you reference other cells in a formula, they're highlighted in contrasting colours, so you can check you've picked the right ones before you press Enter.

You can also subtract plain numbers, such as =10-4, but I'd almost always point at cells instead. That way the answer updates the moment the numbers change.

Using the MINUS function in Google Sheets

Google Sheets has a function that does exactly the same thing. According to Google's function help, MINUS returns the difference of two numbers and is equivalent to the minus operator.

Formula	What it does
=MINUS(A2,A3)	Takes the value in A3 away from the value in A2
=MINUS(3,4)	Takes 4 away from 3, giving a negative answer

The order matters. Google describes the first value as the number to be subtracted from, and the second as the number to subtract. Swap them and you'll get the same number with the opposite sign.

MINUS only handles two values. For anything longer, the minus sign is simpler: =A2-B2-C2 takes both B2 and C2 away from A2.

Subtracting a whole range from one number in Google Sheets

Say you start with a total in A1 and want to take away everything listed in B2 to B10. Rather than typing B2, B3 and so on, nest a SUM inside your subtraction:

=A1-SUM(B2:B10)

Google's help explains that when functions are combined, Sheets works out the innermost one first. So it adds up B2 to B10, then takes that total away from A1. If you want a refresher on that part, my walkthrough on totalling cells with SUM in Google Sheets covers the range and the shortcuts.

Copying a subtraction formula down a Google Sheets column

Most lists need the same subtraction on every row, such as column A minus column B for each product. Type the formula once in the top row, then copy it down:

1. Type =A2-B2 in C2 and press Enter.
2. Click C2 again.
3. Drag the small blue box in the bottom right corner of the cell down the column.

Google's autofill help describes dragging that blue box down or across. For a formula, the cell references move with each row, so C3 becomes =A3-B3, C4 becomes =A4-B4, and so on. Click any cell afterwards to check the references look right.

Subtraction examples for side hustles and small businesses

Job	Formula idea
Stock left	Starting stock minus units sold, such as =A2-B2
Hours left on a retainer	Hours agreed minus hours logged
Days until a due date	The due date minus today's date in another cell
Followers gained	This week's count minus last week's count

If you track jobs as done or not done in the same sheet, a column of tick boxes keeps it visual. My guide to checkboxes in Google Sheets shows how to add them next to each row you track.

Getting the gap between two numbers in Google Sheets without a minus result

Sometimes you don't care which number is bigger. You just want the size of the gap, for example the difference between two quotes or two weeks of website visits. That's where ABS helps, because it turns any negative answer into a positive one.

=ABS(A2-B2)

Google's formula help uses this exact pairing in its nested function example, where ABS wraps around SUM. The same logic applies here: Sheets does the subtraction inside the brackets first, then ABS strips off any minus sign. It's a small thing, but it stops people misreading a column full of negative numbers as bad news when it only means the values were entered the other way round.

I'd keep a short note in the column header saying what the gap measures, so anyone else opening the sheet knows how to read it.

Why your Google Sheets subtraction shows an error or zero

• The formula shows as text: you probably forgot the equals sign at the start.
• The answer is zero or wrong: one of the cells may hold a number stored as text, often from a copy and paste. Retype it or check its format.
• A negative answer you didn't expect: the values are the wrong way round. Put the bigger number first.
• References shifted oddly after copying: click the cell and check which cells are highlighted in the formula.
• You see a suggestion box: Google says Sheets may suggest formulas based on your data, and you can accept or ignore it.

Subtracting in the Google Sheets mobile app

The formula is identical on a phone. Tap the cell, type an equals sign in the formula bar, tap or type the first cell, add a minus sign, then the second cell, and confirm it. Menus vary by app version, but the formula itself works the same way. I find it quicker to type cell names like A2 on a small screen than to tap them.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a subtract function in Google Sheets?

Yes, MINUS. Google says it returns the difference of two numbers and is equivalent to the minus operator, so =MINUS(A2,A3) and =A2-A3 give the same answer.

How do I subtract one column from another?

Type =A2-B2 in the first row of a new column, then drag the small blue box in the cell's bottom right corner down to copy it.

How do I subtract several cells from one number?

Nest SUM inside the subtraction, for example =A1-SUM(B2:B10).

Why is my subtraction formula showing as text?

It usually means the formula doesn't start with an equals sign.

Can MINUS subtract more than two numbers?

No. MINUS takes two values. Use the minus sign, such as =A2-B2-C2, or subtract a SUM.