What is running total in Google Sheets?

Running Total is pivot table vocabulary in Google Sheets: fields, groups, totals, and editor controls that summarize raw tables. Pivots trade formula complexity for drag-and-drop aggregation.

When to use it

Use pivot features when you need quick sums, counts, or groups on a large flat table.

When to skip it

Skip pivots when QUERY or SUMIFS already produce a stable, formula-driven report you version in git.

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