Excel Order of Operations (Why =2+3*4 Is 14)
By ExcelReady TeamUpdated 5 min read
The short answer
Excel calculates a formula in a fixed order: anything in parentheses first, then negative signs, percent, powers (^), then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Signs at the same level go from left to right. So =2+34 is 14, not 20, because Excel multiplies 34 first. Write =(2+3)*4 to add first.
Key takeaways
- Excel always does * and / before + and -, so =2+3*4 is 14.
- Parentheses come first: =(2+3)*4 is 20. Use them whenever you are not sure.
- Signs at the same level are worked out from left to right: =12/3*2 is 8.
- Excel applies a minus sign at the start before the power, so =-2^2 is 4, not -4.
- Percent change needs parentheses: =(C2-B2)/B2, not =C2-B2/B2.
On this page+
- The Excel order of operations in one table
- Why =2+3*4 is 14, not 20
- How parentheses change the result
- Same level? Excel goes left to right
- Watch out: negative numbers and powers
- Where the percent sign fits
- Everyday formulas that need parentheses
- How to check which part Excel does first
- Practise the order of operations
The Excel order of operations decides which part of a formula Excel calculates first: parentheses, then powers, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. That's why =2+3*4 gives 14: Excel works out 3*4 before it adds the 2. This guide shows the full order, the two places where Excel surprises people who know BODMAS or PEMDAS, and the everyday formulas that need parentheses.
The Excel order of operations in one table#
Excel works through a formula from the top of this list to the bottom. Signs on the same line have equal rank, and Excel does them from left to right.
| Order | Sign | What it does | Example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ( ) | parentheses: do this part first | =(2+3)*4 | 20 |
| 2 | - | negative sign, as in -2 | =-2^2 | 4 |
| 3 | % | percent | =200*10% | 20 |
| 4 | ^ | power | =2^3 | 8 |
| 5 | * / | multiply, divide | =12/3*2 | 8 |
| 6 | + - | add, subtract | =10-4+2 | 8 |
| 7 | & | join text | ="Q"&1+2 | Q3 |
| 8 | = < > <= >= <> | compare | =2+2=4 | TRUE |
You'll use the first six almost every day. Joining text and comparing come last, which is why ="Q"&1+2 gives Q3: Excel adds 1+2 before it joins.
Why =2+3*4 is 14, not 20#
Excel does multiplication before addition, whatever order you type them in. In =2+3*4:
- Excel sees
*and+. Multiplication ranks higher. - It works out
3*4= 12. - Then it adds:
2+12= 14.
If you read the formula left to right like a sentence, you might expect 2+3 = 5, then 5*4 = 20. Excel doesn't read it that way. To get 20, tell Excel what to do first with parentheses: =(2+3)*4.
How parentheses change the result#
Parentheses beat every other rule: Excel always works out what's inside them first. When there are parentheses inside parentheses, the innermost pair goes first.
| Formula | Steps | Result |
|---|---|---|
=2+3*4 | 3*4 = 12, then 2+12 | 14 |
=(2+3)*4 | 2+3 = 5, then 5*4 | 20 |
=((2+3)*4)/2 | 2+3 = 5, 5*4 = 20, then 20/2 | 10 |
=10/(2+3) | 2+3 = 5, then 10/5 | 2 |
Each opening bracket needs a closing one. While you type, Excel shows each matching pair in the same colour, which helps you check them. If you're not sure what Excel will do first, add parentheses. Extra brackets never change a correct answer.
Same level? Excel goes left to right#
Multiplication and division have the same rank, so Excel does them in the order they appear, from left to right. The same goes for addition and subtraction.
=12/3*2is 12/3 = 4, then 4*2 = 8 (not 12/6 = 2).=10-4+2is 10-4 = 6, then 6+2 = 8 (not 10-6 = 4).
This also applies to powers, which is different from school maths. =2^3^2 in Excel is (2^3)^2 = 64. In maths, 2^3^2 usually means 2^(3^2) = 512. If you need the maths version, write =2^(3^2).
Watch out: negative numbers and powers#
A minus sign at the start of a number ranks higher than ^. So =-2^2 is (-2)^2 = 4, not -4.
But a minus sign between two values is subtraction, which ranks lower. So =0-2^2 is 0-4 = -4. If you want minus "2 squared", write =-(2^2), which gives -4. This rarely matters in business sheets, but it's a common trick question.
Where the percent sign fits#
The % sign divides a number by 100, and Excel applies it before powers, multiplication and addition. =200*10% is 200*0.1 = 20. =1+10% is 1.1.
That makes growth formulas easy to read. To grow 500 by 10%, write =500*(1+10%), which gives 550. The parentheses make Excel add 1+10% before it multiplies. Without them, =500*1+10% is 500 + 0.1 = 500.1. Once you have results like these, format them as currency or percent so they're easy to read.
Everyday formulas that need parentheses#
Most real mistakes with the order of operations come from a few common formulas. Here they are with the wrong and right versions:
| Task | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Percent change from B2 to C2 | =C2-B2/B2 | =(C2-B2)/B2 |
| Average of two cells | =B2+C2/2 | =(B2+C2)/2 |
| Pay with 10 extra hours | =C3+10*D3 | =(C3+10)*D3 |
| Price after a discount in C2 | =B2*1-C2 | =B2*(1-C2) |
Take percent change. If B2 is 200 and C2 is 250, the wrong version divides first: 250 - 200/200 = 250 - 1 = 249. The right version subtracts first: (250-200)/200 = 0.25, which is 25%.
These formulas usually go in the first row of a table. To copy them down, see Fill Down and Fill Right, and if one cell must stay fixed, copy a formula without changing its references.
How to check which part Excel does first#
The surest check is to work out one row by hand and compare it with Excel's answer. If they differ, add parentheses around the part that should come first.
In Excel for Windows, Formulas > Evaluate Formula shows each step of the calculation one at a time. Another way, on any version, is to split a long formula into helper cells: put =C2-B2 in one cell and divide it in the next. You can delete the helpers once the result is right.
These rules are the same in Excel's job tests on any platform, and simple cases like =2+3*4 work the same way in Google Sheets. See Excel vs Google Sheets for job tests for the differences that do matter.
Practise the order of operations#
Try it yourself in a live sheet. The your first formulas lesson asks you to guess what =2+3*4 gives, check it, then use parentheses to add overtime before you multiply. It takes a few minutes, and how long it takes to learn Excel shows what to learn after it.
Try it yourself
This is a live spreadsheet. Type the formula in the green cell and press Enter.
Pay is (regular hours + overtime hours) × rate. In E2, type =(B2+C2)*D2 and press Enter. Without the parentheses, Excel would multiply first and get the pay wrong.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pay | |||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 5 | ||||||
| 6 | ||||||
| 7 |
Tip: Add the two hours inside parentheses first, then multiply by the rate.
Practise this in a lesson
Frequently asked questions
Does Excel follow BODMAS or PEMDAS?
Mostly, yes. Excel does parentheses first, then powers, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. The differences are that a leading minus sign comes before powers, and Excel works out several powers from left to right.
Why does =2+3*4 equal 14 in Excel?
Excel multiplies before it adds. It works out 3*4 = 12 first, then adds 2 to get 14. To get 20, write =(2+3)*4.
Why does =-2^2 give 4 in Excel?
Excel applies the minus sign at the start to the 2 before it does the power, so it calculates (-2)^2 = 4. Write =-(2^2) if you want -4.
Does Excel do multiplication or division first?
Neither comes first. They are at the same level, so Excel works from left to right. =12/32 is 42 = 8.
Can I use too many parentheses?
Extra parentheses never change a correct result, they only make the formula longer. Every opening bracket needs a closing one, or Excel will show an error.