SUM (Transact-SQL)

Returns the sum of all the values, or only the DISTINCT values, in the expression. SUM can be used with numeric columns only. Null values are ignored. May be followed by the OVER clause.

Topic link iconTransact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

SUM ( [ ALL | DISTINCT ] expression )

Arguments

  • ALL
    Applies the aggregate function to all values. ALL is the default.
  • DISTINCT
    Specifies that SUM return the sum of unique values.
  • expression
    Is a constant, column, or function, and any combination of arithmetic, bitwise, and string operators. expression is an expression of the exact numeric or approximate numeric data type category, except for the bit data type. Aggregate functions and subqueries are not permitted. For more information, see Expressions (Transact-SQL).

Return Types

Returns the summation of all expression values in the most precise expression data type.

Expression result Return type

integer category

int

decimal category (p, s)

decimal(38, s)

money and smallmoney category

money

float and real category

float

Important

Distinct aggregates, for example AVG(DISTINCT column_name), COUNT(DISTINCT column_name), MAX(DISTINCT column_name), MIN(DISTINCT column_name), and SUM(DISTINCT column_name), are not supported when CUBE or ROLLUP are used. If used, the SQL Server 2005 Database Engine returns an error message and cancels the query.

Examples

A. Using SUM for aggregates and row aggregates

The following examples show the differences between aggregate functions and row aggregate functions. The first shows aggregate functions giving only the summary data, and the second shows row aggregate functions giving both the detail and summary data.

USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT Color, SUM(ListPrice), SUM(StandardCost)
FROM Production.Product
WHERE Color IS NOT NULL AND ListPrice != 0.00 AND Name LIKE 'Mountain%'
GROUP BY Color
ORDER BY Color;
GO

Here is the result set.

Color                                 
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Black           27404.84              15214.9616
Silver          26462.84              14665.6792
White           19.00                 6.7926

(3 row(s) affected)

USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT Color, ListPrice, StandardCost
FROM Production.Product
WHERE Color IS NOT NULL AND ListPrice != 0.00 AND Name LIKE 'Mountain%'
ORDER BY Color
COMPUTE SUM(ListPrice), SUM(StandardCost) BY Color;
GO

Here is the result set.

Color           ListPrice             StandardCost
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Black           2294.99               1251.9813
Black           2294.99               1251.9813
Black           2294.99               1251.9813
Black           1079.99               598.4354
Black           1079.99               598.4354
Black           1079.99               598.4354
Black           1079.99               598.4354
Black           3374.99               1898.0944
Black           3374.99               1898.0944
Black           3374.99               1898.0944
Black           3374.99               1898.0944
Black           539.99                294.5797
Black           539.99                294.5797
Black           539.99                294.5797
Black           539.99                294.5797
Black           539.99                294.5797

sum                   sum
--------------------- ---------------------
27404.84              15214.9616

Color           ListPrice             StandardCost
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Silver          2319.99               1265.6195
Silver          2319.99               1265.6195
Silver          2319.99               1265.6195
Silver          3399.99               1912.1544
Silver          3399.99               1912.1544
Silver          3399.99               1912.1544
Silver          3399.99               1912.1544
Silver          769.49                419.7784
Silver          769.49                419.7784
Silver          769.49                419.7784
Silver          769.49                419.7784
Silver          564.99                308.2179
Silver          564.99                308.2179
Silver          564.99                308.2179
Silver          564.99                308.2179
Silver          564.99                308.2179

sum                   sum
--------------------- ---------------------
26462.84              14665.6792

Color           ListPrice             StandardCost
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
White           9.50                  3.3963
White           9.50                  3.3963

sum                   sum
--------------------- ---------------------
19.00                 6.7926

(37 row(s) affected)

B. Calculating group totals with more than one column

The following example calculates the sum of the ListPrice and StandardCost for each color listed in the Product table.

USE AdventureWorks;
GO
SELECT Color, SUM(ListPrice), SUM(StandardCost)
FROM Production.Product
GROUP BY Color
ORDER BY Color
GO

Here is the result set.

Color                                 
--------------- --------------------- ---------------------
NULL            4182.32               2238.4755
Black           67436.26              38636.5002
Blue            24015.66              14746.1464
Grey            125.00                51.5625
Multi           478.92                272.2542
Red             53274.10              32610.7661
Silver          36563.13              20060.0483
Silver/Black    448.13                198.97
White           36.98                 13.5172
Yellow          34527.29              21507.6521

(10 row(s) affected)

See Also

Reference

Aggregate Functions (Transact-SQL)
OVER Clause (Transact-SQL)

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance