How to Multiply in Excel: Easy Multiplication Formula

Knowing how to perform arithmetic operations is one of the most basic things to learn in Microsoft Excel.

Among the four basic arithmetic operations, we’ll focus on the multiplication operation.

You don’t need to worry ’cause it’s super easy.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to multiply in Excel so you can let Excel do the math for you.

Multiplication in Excel

To multiply numbers in Excel, we’re going to use the asterisk symbol (*) as the multiplication operator.

Simply follow this multiplication formula =a*b where:

• a – the number to be multiplied
• b – the number by which it is multiplied

Don’t forget to first type the equal sign (=) in the cell before you type the numbers and the asterisk symbol.

Let’s say you want to multiply the numbers 10 and 5, to do that…

1. Double-click an empty cell.
2. Type the multiplication formula =10*5 in the cell or in the formula bar.

First, type the equal sign (=), then the number 10, followed by the asterisk symbol (*), and the number 5.

3. Press Enter.

Excel displays 50 as the product.

Easy, right?

Here are other examples of simple multiplication formulas.

This is super helpful especially when you need to multiply a lot of large numbers.

Or multiply them again and again. The possibilities are endless.

Aside from that, you can also use cell references in the multiplication formulas instead of having to manually type the numbers you want to multiply.

How to multiply cells in Excel

As you know, you can enter and store values in the cells of your Excel spreadsheet.

When you multiply numbers in Excel, instead of typing the numbers one by one, you can just click the cell references of those numbers.

You can find the cell reference in the Name box found to the left of the formula bar.

Let’s multiply cells in Excel.

With the same example as above. Let’s multiply 10 by 5.

1. Double-click a cell and type the equal sign (=) to start the formula.

You can also start the formula in the formula bar.

2. Instead of typing 10, click the cell reference which has a cell value of 10.

In our example, it’s cell B3.

Then type the asterisk (*) as the multiplication symbol.

=B3*

3. Next, instead of typing 5, click the cell reference which has a cell value of 5.

In our example, it’s cell B4.

=B3*B4

4. Press Enter.

Excel displays 50 as the product result.

Here are other examples of how to multiply in Excel using cell references.

Using cell references in multiplying numbers helps you calculate faster and in a more accurate way.

Not only that you can multiply individual cells but you can also multiply multiple cells.

As long as you know the cell references of the numbers you want to multiply.

Or you can use the PRODUCT function too.

Multiply cells using the PRODUCT function

The PRODUCT function in Excel multiplies all the numbers given as arguments and returns the product.

It can be used to multiply numbers, cell references, and even cell ranges.

The syntax of the PRODUCT function is: PRODUCT(number1, [number2], …) where:

• number1 – the first number or range that you want to multiply.
• number2 – additional numbers, cells, or ranges that you want to multiply (maximum of 255 arguments)

Let’s multiply two cells using the PRODUCT function.

1. Double-click a cell and type the equal sign (=) and type the PRODUCT formula.

You can also start the formula in the formula bar.

=PRODUCT(

2. Select the first cell you want to multiply.

In our example, cell B3. Type a comma(,)

=PRODUCT(B3,

3. Select the next cell you want to multiply.

In our example, it’s cell B4. Close the formula with a right parenthesis.

=PRODUCT(B3,B4)

4. Press Enter.

You can also multiply all the cells in one column.

You can also multiply cells in two columns.

For example, let’s multiply cells in column B and column C.

You can also multiply ranges in Excel.

Now, that is how to multiply in Excel using the PRODUCT function.

Amazing, right?

Order of operations

When performing arithmetic operations, it’s important for you to recall and understand the order of operations.

This is not only for Excel but in general.

The order of operations affects the multiplication formula just as it affects other arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, and division.

For example, in the Excel formula =10*5-3

You need to perform two arithmetic operations: subtraction and multiplication.

Following the PEMDAS, you need to perform first multiplication and then subtraction.

So Excel multiplies 10 by 5 first and then subtracts 3.

Excel then displays 47 as the result.

The table below shows more examples of how the order of operations can impact multiplication formulas.

That’s it – Now what?

You can now let Excel do the math for you after learning how to multiply in Excel.

Learning and practicing how to write Excel formulas will definitely change the game of how you work in Excel. Talk about getting work done faster and easier.

That’s why Excel skills are one of the most needed skills in every job.

Learning Excel can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Join my FREE Beginner Excel Training to start learning Excel right now, in the right order. You’ll learn the basics of Excel, basic Excel functions, and many more.

It’s easy, quick, and free, just the way you like it.

Other resources

Learning doesn’t stop.

If you now know how to multiply in Excel, it’s also important to learn:

• How to divide in Excel
• How to subtract in Excel
• How to SUM a column in Excel

When using cell references, it’s important to know the difference between a relative reference and an absolute reference. Read more about them here.