SQL - Calculate Running Total

SQL > Advanced SQL > Running Totals

There are multiple ways to calculate running totals in SQL. We will show two ways here: The first without using the window function, the second using the window function.

Not using window function

Calculating the running total without the window function requires us to first do a self-join, then list out the results in order. This is similar to finding a rank without using the window function. Where as finding the rank requires doing a count on the number of records that's listed ahead of (and including) the record of interest, finding the running total requires summing the values for the records that's listed ahead of (and including) the record of interest.

Let's use an example to illustrate. Say we have the following table,

Table Total_Sales

Name	Sales
John	10
Jennifer	15
Stella	20
Sophia	40
Greg	50
Jeff	20

we would type,

SELECT a1.Name, a1.Sales, SUM(a2.Sales) Running_Total
FROM Total_Sales a1, Total_Sales a2
WHERE a1.Sales <= a2.sales or (a1.Sales=a2.Sales and a1.Name = a2.Name)
GROUP BY a1.Name, a1.Sales
ORDER BY a1.Sales DESC, a1.Name DESC;

Result:

Name	Sales	Running_Total
Greg	50	50
Sophia	40	90
Stella	20	110
Jeff	20	130
Jennifer	15	145
John	10	155

The combination of the WHERE clause and the ORDER BY clause ensure that the proper running totals are tabulated when there are duplicate values.

Using window function

We will use the SUM() function as part of the window function as follows:

SELECT a1.Name, a1.Sales, SUM(a2.Sales) OVER (ORDER BY Sales DESC) RT
FROM Total_Sales
ORDER BY Sales DESC;

Result:

Name	Sales	RT
Greg	50	50
Sophia	40	90
Stella	20	110
Jeff	20	130
Jennifer	15	145
John	10	155

The SUM() function causes the window function to caluclate the sum of all the rows from the first row up to the current row. So, for Sophia, the running total column of 90 is the result of adding 50 and 40.

Notice the code involving the window function is much simpler and the logic is less complicated. Hence using the window function is seen as the preferred way to calculate running totals.

List of SQL Complex Operations

Operation	Description
Rank	Calculates the ranking of a series of numbers.
Median	Calculates the median of a series of numbers.
Running Totals	Calculates the running total for a series of numbers.
Percent To Total	Calculates the percent to total for each number in a series.
Cumulative Percent To Total	Calculates the cumulative percent to total for each number in a series.

Next: SQL Percent To Total

This page was last updated on June 19, 2022.

SQL Running Total

Not using window function

Using window function

List of SQL Complex Operations