Excel MAX function

The Excel MAX function returns the largest numeric value in the data provided. MAX ignores empty cells, the logical values TRUE and FALSE, and text values.

Purpose

Get the largest value

Return value

The largest value in supplied data

Syntax

=MAX(number1,[number2],...)

number1 - Number, reference to numeric value, or range that contains numeric values.
number2 - [optional] Number, reference to numeric value, or range that contains numeric values.

How to use

The MAX function returns the largest numeric value in the data provided. The MAX function can be used to return the largest value from any type of numeric data. For example, MAX can return the slowest time in a race, the latest date, the largest percentage, the highest temperature, or the top sales number.

The MAX function takes multiple arguments in the form number1, number2, number3, etc. up to 255 total. Arguments can be a hardcoded constant, a cell reference, or a range, in any combination. MAX ignores empty cells, text values, and the logical values TRUE and FALSE.

Basic Example

The MAX function returns the largest numeric value in supplied data:

=MAX(12,17,25,11,23) // returns 25

When given a range, MAX returns the smallest value in the range:

=MAX(A1:A10) // maximum value in A1:A10

Mixed arguments

The MAX function can accept a mix of arguments:

=MAX(5,10)
=MAX(A1,A2,A3)
=MAX(A1:A10,100)
=MAX(A1:A10,C1:C10)

Logical values

The MAX function will ignore logical values and numbers entered as text that appear on the worksheet. However, if such values are provided directly as arguments, MAX will use them:

=MAX(-1,TRUE) // returns 1
=MAX(-1,TRUE,"3") // returns 3

Errors

When MAX encounters an error in a range, it will return an error. To calculate a maximum value while ignoring errors, you can use the AGGREGATE function, which can be configured to ignore errors. See a detailed example here.

Other functions

Excel provides other functions that deal with maximum values and rank:

To calculate the maximum value with criteria, use the MAXIFS function.
To retrieve the nth largest value in a data set, use the LARGE function.
To determine the rank of a number in a set of data, use the RANK function.

Notes

Arguments can be provided as numbers, names, arrays, or references.
MAX accepts up to 255 arguments. If arguments contain no numbers, MAX returns 0.
MAX ignores empty cells, text values, and TRUE and FALSE in references.
MAX will evaluate numbers as text and logical values supplied directly as arguments.
To include logical values in a reference, see the MAXA function.