To subtract in Excel, type an equals sign and put a minus between two cells: =B2-C2 subtracts the value in C2 from the value in B2. There is no SUBTRACT function; the minus sign does the job.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Category | Budget | Spent | Left |
| 2 | Food | 600 | 455 | 145 |
| 3 | Rent | 1200 | 1200 | 0 |
| 4 | Transport | 150 | 182 | -32 |
| 5 | Fun | 200 | 96 | 104 |
D2 shows 145. Change C2 to 500 and D2 drops to 100. Transport went over budget, so D4 is negative: -32.
Subtract a column in Excel
D2 holds the only formula typed by hand. D3 to D5 are that formula filled down: click D3 and the formula bar shows =B3-C3. To do the same in Excel, write the formula in the first row, then drag the small square at the cell's bottom corner down the column, or double-click it to fill down as far as the data goes.
You can also subtract one column from another in a single formula that spills down the rows (Excel 365 and Excel 2021):
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Category | Budget | Spent | Left |
| 2 | Food | 600 | 455 | 145 |
| 3 | Rent | 1200 | 1200 | 0 |
| 4 | Transport | 150 | 182 | -32 |
| 5 | Fun | 200 | 96 | 104 |
D2 holds the formula and the four results spill into D2:D5. In older Excel versions, use the filled-down formula instead.
Subtract multiple cells from one cell
To take several cells away from one number, either chain the minus signs or subtract a SUM. Both give the same result, but the SUM version is shorter and easier to extend.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Month | Income | Rent | Food | Transport | Left (SUM) | Left (minus signs) |
| 2 | Jan | 3200 | 1200 | 540 | 160 | 1300 | 1300 |
| 3 | Feb | 3200 | 1200 | 610 | 145 | 1245 | 1245 |
Both columns show 1300 for January and 1245 for February. A common mistake is =B2-C2:E2: it does not subtract the three cells from B2 in one go. Excel 365 returns three separate differences (B2-C2, B2-D2 and B2-E2) that spill across the row, and older versions return #VALUE! or a single wrong value. Write =B2-SUM(C2:E2) instead.
When costs are already typed as negatives (-1200 for rent, -540 for food), a plain SUM of the column gives the balance, because adding a negative number subtracts it.
Subtract a percentage in Excel
To take 20% off a price, multiply the price by 80%, which is 1-20%. The formula =B2*(1-C2) does that for each row. =B2-B2*C2 gives the same result in a longer way.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product | Price | Discount | Sale price |
| 2 | Jacket | $80.00 | 20% | $64.00 |
| 3 | Boots | $120.00 | 15% | $102.00 |
| 4 | Scarf | $25.00 | 10% | $22.50 |
| 5 | Gloves | $18.00 | 50% | $9.00 |
The jacket costs 79.80. More percentage formulas are on the percentage page.
Subtract dates in Excel
Excel stores a date as a whole number of days, so subtracting one date from another gives the number of days between them.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ordered | Delivered | Days |
| 2 | 2026-03-02 | 2026-03-09 | 7 |
| 3 | 2026-03-15 | 2026-04-01 | 17 |
| 4 | 2026-04-20 | 2026-04-21 | 1 |
C2 shows 7. If the result shows as a date in January 1900 in your Excel, the cell picked up a date format; set it to General. Months, years and working days are covered in days between dates.
Practice: what is left of the budget
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expense | Amount | Budget | 2500 | ||
| 2 | Rent | 1200 | Left | |||
| 3 | Food | 540 | ||||
| 4 | Transport | 160 | ||||
| 5 | Phone | 39 | ||||
| 6 | Gym | 45 |
Your turn: In F2, subtract all five expenses from the budget in F1.
Subtract the same number from a column
When every row subtracts the same value, keep that value in one cell and lock it with dollar signs. =B2-$F$1 always points at F1, however far the formula is filled.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product | Price | After coupon | Coupon | $5.00 | |
| 2 | Jacket | $80.00 | $75.00 | |||
| 3 | Boots | $120.00 | $115.00 | |||
| 4 | Scarf | $25.00 | $20.00 | |||
| 5 | Gloves | $18.00 | $13.00 |
Every price drops by $5.00, and changing F1 changes the whole column. Remove the dollar signs (=B2-F1) and fill down again: C3 becomes =B3-F2, which points at an empty cell, so nothing is subtracted from the boots. Why this happens, and the F4 shortcut that adds the dollar signs, is explained in absolute references.
To change the prices themselves instead of adding a column of formulas, copy F1, select B2:B5, press Ctrl+Alt+V (Cmd+Ctrl+V on a Mac) to open Paste Special, choose Values and Subtract, and click OK. Every price drops by 5 and no formula is left behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a SUBTRACT function in Excel?
No. Subtraction uses the minus sign: =B2-C2. To subtract several cells at once, subtract their SUM: =B2-SUM(C2:E2).
How do I subtract a whole column in Excel?
Write the formula for the first row, for example =B2-C2 in D2, then drag the fill handle at the cell's corner down the column, or double-click it. Each row's formula moves to its own row: D3 becomes =B3-C3.
How do I subtract a percentage from a number in Excel?
Multiply by one minus the percentage: =B2*(1-C2) with 20% in C2 gives 80% of B2. With the percent typed in, it is =B2*(1-20%).
How do I subtract the same number from every cell in a column?
Put the number in one cell and lock it with dollar signs: =B2-$F$1, then fill down. Without the $, the reference moves down with the formula and points at empty cells.
Why does my subtraction show a date or ######?
The result cell has a date format. Set it to General or Number (Home > Number Format). In a date-formatted cell a negative result shows as ######, because Excel has no dates before 1900.
