In a totaled grid, the sum of row totals must equal the sum of column totals — and both must equal the grand total. A cross-foot check returns TRUE only when the table is internally consistent.
The example
Row sums and column sums both = grand total.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check | Result |
| 2 | Rows = Cols? | TRUE |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Sum the row totals and, separately, the column totals.
- They must be equal — and equal the grand total — in a correct table.
- Wrap the difference in
ROUND(…, 2)before comparing to 0 to absorb floating-point dust. - Return TRUE/FALSE, or an IF message, as a one-cell integrity check.
Never compare floats with plain =. SUM(rows) = SUM(cols) can return FALSE even when the numbers are “equal” because of tiny binary rounding errors. Always compare the difference to zero after ROUND: ROUND(a - b, 2) = 0. This single habit prevents phantom reconciliation failures across the whole sheet.
Try it: interactive demo
Row totals and column totals (comma-separated).
Variations
Vs grand total
Three-way tie:
Show the difference
How far off:
Pass/fail message
Readable:
Pitfalls & errors
ROUND before comparing. Floating-point dust breaks a plain = on sums.
Tie to the grand total. Rows = cols isn’t enough if both miss the grand total.
Watch hidden rows. SUM includes filtered-out rows; use SUBTOTAL if you mean visible only.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I cross-foot a table in Excel?
Why does my totals check return FALSE when they look equal?
How do I tie to the grand total too?
Stop fighting formulas. Learn them in a day.
This recipe is one of hundreds of real-world formulas we teach. Our Excel Formulas & Functions class covers lookups, logic, text, and dynamic arrays hands-on — live in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Denver, or online.
See the Formulas & Functions Class