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How to track a running inventory balance in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=D2+SUM($B$2:B2)-SUM($C$2:C2)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Date | Received | Issued | Balance |
| 2024-01-01 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| 2024-01-02 | 50 | 30 | |
| 2024-01-03 | 0 | 20 | |
| 2024-01-04 | 80 | 40 |
=D2+SUM($B$2:B2)-SUM($C$2:C2)→200
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Step by step
- 1Set up columns: Date, Received (B), Issued (C), Balance (D). Enter your opening balance in D2 (a manual figure).
- 2In D3, enter =D2+B3-C3 to add receipts and subtract issues from the prior balance.
- 3Copy D3 down for all transaction rows.
- 4Alternatively, use =OpeningBalance+SUM($B$2:B2)-SUM($C$2:C2) in each cell for a formula-only approach without manual balance entry.
Tips
- Use absolute row anchoring ($B$2:B2) so the SUM expands row by row as you copy the formula down, accumulating all transactions.
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Frequently asked
How do I add an opening balance without hardcoding it?
Put the opening balance in a named cell (e.g., D1) and reference it: =D$1+SUM($B$2:B2)-SUM($C$2:C2).
Can I filter the balance by product?
Use SUMIF with a product column to accumulate receipts and issues for each product separately.