A pivot table summarizes a list without formulas. Select the data, headings included, and choose Insert > Pivot table. Pick New sheet and press Create. Sheets adds a tab with an empty table and opens the Pivot table editor on the right.
The editor has four parts. Click Add next to each:
- Rows: a field whose values become one row each, such as Region.
- Columns: a field whose values spread across, such as Quarter.
- Values: the numbers to summarize. Number fields are added as SUM; text fields as COUNTA, which counts entries. Change it under Summarize by: SUM, COUNTA, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and more.
- Filters: leave some rows out, such as all regions except West.
Headings follow the summary, like "SUM of Revenue", and a Grand Total row is added at the bottom. Unlike Excel, a Sheets pivot table updates by itself when the source data changes; there's no Refresh button to press.