AG Grid 35 introduces spreadsheet-style formulas in cells#

AG Grid 35, released in December 2025, adds one of the most requested capabilities for data-heavy grids: formulas. Users can type calculations directly into cells, reference other cells, use built-in functions and operators, and define custom functions — similar to Excel or Google Sheets, but inside your DataGrid. In this article we look at what’s in the box, how to enable it, and when it makes sense.

TL;DR

AG Grid 35’s Formulas feature lets users create dynamic calculations in cells: cell references (e.g.

A1

B2:C5

), functions, and operators. You enable it per column with

allowFormula: true

and optionally add custom functions via

formulaFuncs

. It’s a strong fit for dashboards, financial tools, and any grid where end users need to compute values without going back to the dev team.

What AG Grid 35 formulas offer#

Formulas in AG Grid work like spreadsheet formulas:

Cell references — Reference other cells (e.g.
```
A1
```
,
```
B2
```
) or ranges. The grid resolves them and updates when source data changes.
Functions — Use built-in functions for math, logic, text, and more. The Formulas docs list what’s available.
Operators — Standard arithmetic and comparison operators for building expressions.
Constants — Use literal values inside formulas.

Users type the formula into the cell (e.g.

=A1+B1

=SUM(B2:B10)

). The grid evaluates it and shows the result; when referenced cells change, the formula cell updates. That gives end users a way to add calculations and explore data without asking for new columns or backend changes.

How to enable formulas#

You enable formulas per column and ensure the grid can identify rows for references:

Row identity — Implement
```
getRowId
```
so the grid can track rows when formulas reference them.
Allow formulas on columns — Set
```
allowFormula: true
```
on the column definitions where users may enter formulas.

const getRowId = (params) => String(params.data.rid);

const columnDefs = [
  { field: 'subtotal', allowFormula: true },
  { field: 'tax', allowFormula: true },
  // ... other columns
];

COPY

Optional: custom functions — If the built-in set isn’t enough, you can register custom functions via the
```
formulaFuncs
```
grid option so users can call them from cells.

Full details and options (e.g. custom functions, parsing) are in the official Formulas documentation.

When formulas in a DataGrid make sense#

Formulas are useful when:

End users need ad-hoc calculations — Analysts or power users want to add totals, ratios, or derived columns without a deploy.
You’re building a spreadsheet-like experience — Budgets, forecasts, pricing tools, or reporting UIs where cell-to-cell references are expected.
You want to reduce “add a column” requests — Let users define calculations in the grid instead of asking the dev team for new backend or column logic.

They’re less critical when:

All values are supplied by the server or computed in code (e.g. value getters / renderers).
The grid is read-only or very simple (no need for in-cell expression logic).

How this fits in the DataGrid landscape#

In-cell formulas are still uncommon in React/JS DataGrids. Many grids offer value getters, aggregations, or computed columns defined in code, but few let end users type Excel-style expressions directly in cells. AG Grid 35’s formulas bring that capability into the grid, which aligns with their focus on enterprise and spreadsheet-like use cases.

If you’re comparing grids for a project that needs user-defined calculations, it’s worth checking whether the grid supports formulas, value getters, or both — and whether that’s in the core or an enterprise tier. For a broader comparison of popular options, see AG Grid vs Infinite Table vs MUI X DataGrid vs TanStack Table (2025) and Which is the best datagrid?.

Other highlights in AG Grid 35#

Besides formulas, AG Grid 35 ships with:

Row group dragging — Move rows within or across groups with drag-and-drop; the grid can update data accordingly (docs).
Absolute sorting — Sort numeric columns by magnitude (e.g. by deviation size) regardless of sign (docs).
Column selection — Select an entire column from the header (e.g. for charts or export) (docs).
Filtering and export overlays — Customisable overlays for long-running filter or export operations (docs).

For the full list of changes and upgrade notes, see the AG Grid 35 release notes and changelog.

Summary#

AG Grid 35’s formulas feature brings spreadsheet-style calculations into the grid: users can reference cells, use built-in and custom functions, and build expressions that update when data changes. It’s a good fit for dashboards, financial tools, and any app where end users need to compute values without code changes. If you’re evaluating grids for that kind of workload, formulas are a feature worth testing in AG Grid 35.

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