I link data from two worksheets into a third worksheet, but I don't want an addition when selecting sum, but a subtraction

Plasmaecho 0 Reputation points
2026-11-12T17:09:10.6333333+00:00

I am linking data from two worksheets into a third one, but instead of addition (calculating a total), I want to perform subtraction (specifically: income - expenses). How can I do this? I tried using the "Consolidate" feature found within the "Data Tools" group, but it only returns the result of an addition.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows
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  1. Hendrix 2,775 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-12T17:37:04.14+00:00

    Hi Plasmaecho,

    Regarding your concern, the Consolidate feature is designed to aggregate data using functions such as Sum, Average, Count, Max, or Min. It cannot directly subtract two worksheet ranges. In this case, you need to use a formula that subtracts the expense value from the income value.

    For example, if each worksheet contains multiple values, you can use this formula to calculate total income minus total expenses: =SUM('Income'!B2:B100)-SUM('Expenses'!B2:B100). You can share more details about the worksheet structure so I can provide the most suitable formula for your situation.

    Hope this helps. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to share them in the comment below. I'm very happy to help.

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