How to Multiply in Google Sheets (Asterisk, MULTIPLY, PRODUCT)

Multiplying is where a spreadsheet starts earning its keep. Units times quantity, hours times days, posts per week times weeks in a campaign: once you've set it up, Google Sheets does the arithmetic every time a number changes, and you stop reaching for the calculator on your phone.

There are three ways to multiply in Google Sheets: the asterisk, the MULTIPLY function and the PRODUCT function. They overlap, but each has one job it does best, so it's worth knowing all three.

Multiplying two cells in Google Sheets with an asterisk

The asterisk is the multiplication sign in spreadsheets. To multiply A2 by B2:

1. Click the cell where you want the result, for example C2.
2. Type =
3. Click A2, type an asterisk, then click B2.
4. Press Enter.

The cell now holds =A2*B2. Google's help explains that every formula starts with an equals sign followed by what you want Sheets to work out. Leave out the equals sign and Sheets treats it as plain text.

You can multiply by a fixed number too. =A2*2 doubles whatever is in A2, and =A2*B2*C2 multiplies three cells in one go.

The MULTIPLY function in Google Sheets

If you'd rather spell it out, Google Sheets has a function for it. According to Google's function help, MULTIPLY returns the product of two numbers and is equivalent to the asterisk operator.

Formula	Result
=MULTIPLY(A2,B2)	A2 times B2
=MULTIPLY(2,3)	6

The catch is in Google's notes: MULTIPLY only handles two values. It doesn't accept ranges, and it won't take more than two arguments. So it's tidy for a simple pair, but it can't multiply a whole column.

Multiplying a whole range with PRODUCT in Google Sheets

PRODUCT is the one to reach for when you've got more than two numbers. Google's help says it returns the result of multiplying a series of numbers together, and each part can be a single number or a range.

Formula	What it multiplies
=PRODUCT(A2:A10)	Every number from A2 to A10
=PRODUCT(A2:A10, 2)	Every number in that range, then doubles the result

A useful detail from Google's notes: if you give PRODUCT a range, empty cells are ignored. That means a gap in your list won't turn the answer into zero, which is what would happen if a blank cell were treated as nought.

Choosing between the asterisk, MULTIPLY and PRODUCT

Method	Best use
Asterisk, such as =A2*B2	Everyday row-by-row maths and mixing with other operations
MULTIPLY	Exactly two values when you want the formula to read as words
PRODUCT	Multiplying a whole range or several values at once

For most small business sheets, the asterisk does everything you need. I use PRODUCT only when I'm multiplying a column of rates or factors together.

Filling a multiplication formula down every row

To repeat the same calculation for each row, such as quantity times units per box for every product, write the formula once and drag it down:

1. Enter =A2*B2 in C2.
2. Select C2.
3. Grab the small blue box at the bottom right of the cell and drag it down your list.

Google's autofill help describes dragging that blue box any number of cells down or across. Each copied formula updates its row number automatically, so row 5 multiplies A5 by B5.

If you need a grand total at the bottom, my guide to the SUM formula in Google Sheets picks up where this leaves off.

Multiplying by the same number in every row

Sometimes every row needs multiplying by one fixed value, such as a conversion factor or the number of weeks in a plan. The simplest approach is to type that number straight into the formula, for example =A2*4, then fill it down. Every row then uses 4.

If that number changes later, edit the formula in the top row and drag it down again so every row picks up the new value. It's less clever than other approaches, but it's very hard to break, and anyone opening the sheet can see exactly what each row is multiplied by.

Multiplication ideas for creators and side hustles

• Content planning: posts per week times weeks in the campaign.
• Stock: boxes ordered times items per box.
• Time: sessions booked times session length in hours.
• Packing: orders times items per order to see how many units to pick.

Add a tick box column to mark which rows you've checked, and my walkthrough on inserting checkboxes in Google Sheets shows you how.

Mixing multiplication with other maths in one Google Sheets formula

Real sheets rarely stop at one operation. You might want quantity times units, plus a fixed handling allowance, or two columns multiplied and then added together. Sheets follows the usual maths order, so multiplication happens before addition unless you use brackets.

Formula	What Sheets works out
=A2*B2+C2	A2 times B2, then adds C2
=(A2+B2)*C2	Adds A2 and B2 first, then multiplies by C2

Google's formula help adds that when you nest functions, the innermost one is calculated first. Brackets work the same way for plain operations. If a result looks too big or too small, brackets are the first thing I'd check.

If multiplying in Google Sheets gives the wrong answer

• Formula appears as text: add an equals sign at the start.
• Result is zero: one cell may be blank or hold text that looks like a number. Retype the value.
• MULTIPLY shows an error: you've probably given it a range or more than two values. Switch to PRODUCT.
• You picked the wrong cells: hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) to select cells that aren't next to each other, as Google's formula help describes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the multiply symbol in Google Sheets?

The asterisk. A formula such as =A2*B2 multiplies the values in A2 and B2.

Is there a MULTIPLY function in Google Sheets?

Yes. Google says MULTIPLY returns the product of two numbers and is equivalent to the asterisk operator, but it only takes two values.

How do I multiply a whole column in Google Sheets?

Use PRODUCT with a range, such as =PRODUCT(A2:A10). Google says empty cells in a range are ignored.

How do I multiply each row by another column?

Type =A2*B2 in the first row, then drag the small blue box in the cell's bottom right corner down the column.

Why does MULTIPLY give an error?

Google's notes say MULTIPLY doesn't accept ranges or more than two arguments. Use PRODUCT or the asterisk instead.