Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet created by Microsoft Corporation for different platforms. It is used to store data in an organized manner and also used as a tool for calculations and creating a chart like a pie chart, bar chart, etc. Excel sheets are used for multiple purposes in the business firms to forecast future performance, calculate tax, completing basic payroll, producing charts and calculating revenues, etc. Apart from that, it also helps you to do calculations like Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc. In this article, let’s see some of the ways to subtract two values in an excel sheet.
Ways to Subtract in Excel
There are four ways to subtract in Excel, and each differs from the other in different ways.
- Subtract inside cell
- Directly via formula bar
- Using formula
- Paste special method
Subtract inside cell
[1] Click on any cell in your excel sheet.
[2] Type equal (=) sign in the cell, followed by the number you need to subtract. (Example: =50-10-10)

[3] Press the enter key on your keyboard.
[4] Now the result will be displayed in the cell. (Result: 50-10-10 = 30)

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Subtract in Excel Directly via Formula Bar
[1] Click on any cell in the excel sheet.
[2] Now go to the formula bar.
[3] Type equal (=) sign followed by the number you need to subtract. (Example: =50-10)

[4] Press the enter key on your keyboard.
[5] Now, the result will be displayed in the selected cell. (Result: 40)

How to Subtract in Excel using Formula
[1] Click on any cell (e.g. A1) and type a number.
[2] Click on another cell (e.g. A2) and type another number.
[3] Now go to the cell where you want to display the result.
[4] On the formula bar,
- Type (=)
- Select the first cell that you want.
- Enter the subtract symbol (-)
- Select the second cell that you want.
- Press the enter key, and the result will display on the selected cell.

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Paste Special Method
[1] Click on any cell and type the number you need to subtract (e.g. 10).
[2] Copy the cell by right-clicking the mouse or by pressing Ctrl + C.

[2] Now type any random number on more than two cells.
[3] Select all the cells that you need to subtract.
[4] Right-click on the cell and select Paste special.
[5] In the Paste special tab, select the Subtract operation and click on OK.

[6] Now the numbers in the selected cells will be subtracted by 10 (the number copied to subtract) in each cell.

These are some of the ways to subtract in excel. You can use the same method for addition, multiplication, and division by just entering the respective signs. Let us know in the comment section if we have missed any technique.