Running Total Calculator (Cumulative Sum)
A running total, or cumulative sum, adds up a list of numbers step by step so you can see the total grow with each entry. It is the figure on a bank statement after every transaction, the score that climbs through a game, and the balance that updates in a budgeting spreadsheet. This tool reads your numbers one per line, builds the cumulative sum in order, and reports the grand total, the count of numbers, and the average. The final running total always equals the grand total of every number you enter.
Running total formula
Running total at step k = sum of the first k numbers
Grand total = running total at the final step
Average = grand total / count
Each running-total entry adds the next number to the previous cumulative sum. The final entry equals the grand total, and the average divides that total by the count of numbers.
How running totals work
- A running total accumulates the sum after each successive number.
- The last running-total value equals the grand total of the whole list.
- The grand total, count, and average do not depend on the order of the numbers.
- The running-total sequence does depend on order, since it builds step by step.
- Blank lines are ignored, and numbers may be separated by line breaks or commas.
Running total: frequently asked questions
What is a running total?
A running total, also called a cumulative sum, is the sum of a sequence of numbers updated after each new entry. After the first number the running total equals that number; after the second it equals the first plus the second; and so on. The final running total is the grand total of every number in the list.
How is a running total different from a plain total?
A plain total is a single number, the sum of everything. A running total is a whole sequence: it shows the accumulating sum at every step, so you can see how the total builds up entry by entry. The last value of the running total equals the plain total.
Where are running totals used?
Running totals appear in bank statements showing balance after each transaction, in scoreboards tallying points, in inventory and stock counts, and in any spreadsheet where you track a cumulative figure over time. They turn a list of changes into an ongoing balance you can read at any point.
How do I enter my numbers?
Type your numbers into the box, one per line, in the order you want them summed. The calculator reads them top to bottom and builds the running total in that order. You can also separate numbers with commas. Blank lines are ignored, so spacing your list out is fine.
Does the order of the numbers matter?
The grand total, count, and average do not depend on order. The running-total sequence does depend on order, because it shows the cumulative sum step by step. If you reorder the list, each intermediate running total may change even though the final total stays the same.
Official sources
- National Institute of Standards and Technology: NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook: measures of location.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Mathematics reference.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 16 June 2026. See our methodology.