How to Subtract in Google Sheets
Subtraction is a fundamental operation in Google Sheets. You can subtract numbers, cell values, dates, and time using simple formulas.
Subtract Two Numbers
Type =10-5 into a cell and press Enter. The result, 5, will appear.
Subtract Cell References
Use =A1-B1 to subtract the value in cell B1 from the value in cell A1.
💡 Cell references update automatically when you copy formulas to new locations.
Subtract Dates
Use =B1-A1 to calculate the number of days between two dates. Format the result as a number, not a date.
💡 Google Sheets stores dates as numbers internally, making date subtraction straightforward.
Subtract Time
Use =B1-A1 to calculate time differences. Ensure both cells are formatted as time. The result shows duration.
Try These Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I subtract a percentage?
Use =A1-(A1*B1) where B1 is the percentage expressed as a decimal (e.g., 0.2 for 20%).
How do I handle negative results?
Google Sheets displays negative numbers by default with a minus sign. Use conditional formatting to highlight them in red.