This guide is specifically for SQL Server syntax.

How to SQL Query for Running Total in SQL

Calculate cumulative sum using window functions with SUM() OVER().

Quick Answer

SELECT date, amount, SUM(amount) OVER (ORDER BY date) as running_total FROM transactions;

Explanation

SUM() OVER() creates a running total. ORDER BY defines the accumulation order. PARTITION BY restarts the total for each group.

Query Variants

Basic

SELECT
  transaction_date,
  amount,
  SUM(amount) OVER (ORDER BY transaction_date) as running_total
FROM transactions;

Partitioned

SELECT
  account_id,
  transaction_date,
  amount,
  SUM(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY account_id ORDER BY transaction_date) as account_balance
FROM transactions;

Moving Average

SELECT
  date,
  value,
  AVG(value) OVER (ORDER BY date ROWS BETWEEN 6 PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW) as moving_avg_7
FROM daily_stats;

Pro Tips

PARTITION BY creates separate running totals per group
Use ROWS BETWEEN for moving windows
Available in most modern databases

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SQL Server-Specific Notes

This page covers SQL Server syntax. Other databases may have different syntax for similar operations.

SQL Server: How to SQL Query for Running Total in SQL