SUM OVER in BigQuery

This page is a quick reference checkpoint for SUM OVER in BigQuery: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.


Function Details

SUM OVER returns the running or partitioned sum within the window frame.

When an aggregate function is used with the OVER clause it becomes a window function. If ORDER BY is present but no frame clause is given, the frame defaults to RANGE BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW.

Warning: In a window-function call, aggregate-function modifiers such as DISTINCT or ORDER BY inside the function cannot be used together with the OVER clause.

If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.

SUM([ DISTINCT ] expression) [ OVER over_clause ]

SELECT region, amount, SUM(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY region) AS region_sum FROM sales_table;

What should you do next?

If you came here to confirm syntax, you’re done. If you came here to get better at window functions, choose your next step.

Understand the pattern

SUM OVER is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: Aggregate Window Functions

Prove it with a real query

Reading docs is useful. Writing the query correctly under pressure is the skill.

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Support Status

  • Supported: yes
  • Minimum Version: BigQuery is continuously updated and has no versioned SQL engine, so minimum version information does not apply.

Official Documentation

For the authoritative spec, use the vendor docs. This page is the fast “sanity check”.

View BigQuery Documentation →

Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.