Summary

The Excel MINA function returns the smallest numeric value in a range of values. The MINA function ignores empty cells, but evaluates the logical values TRUE and FALSE as 1 and 0, and evaluates text as zero when these values appear in a range or cell reference.

Purpose 

Return smallest value.

Return value 

Smallest numeric value

Syntax

=MINA(value1,[value2],...)
  • value1 - Number, reference to numeric value, or range that contains numeric values.
  • value2 - [optional] Number, reference to numeric value, or range that contains numeric values.

How to use 

The MINA function returns the smallest numeric value in a range of values. Like the MIN function, MINA ignores empty cells. However, unlike the MIN function, MINA evaluates the logical values TRUE and FALSE as 1 and 0, and evaluates text as zero when these values appear in a range or cell reference.

The MINA 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. 

Examples

Like the MIN function, the MINA function returns the smallest number in the supplied data:

=MIN(12,17,25,11,23) // returns 11
=MINA(12,17,25,11,23) // returns 11

MINA can be used with constants, cell references, or ranges:

=MINA(5,10)
=MINA(A1,A2,A3)
=MINA(A1:A10)

MINA vs. MIN

The primary difference between MIN and MINA is that MINA evaluates TRUE and FALSE values as 1 and 0, and text values as zero when these values appear in a range or in a cell reference. You can see this behavior in the range I8:I12 of the example shown. While the MIN function ignores the logical and text values completely, the MINA function includes these values when calculating a minimum value.

Note that MIN and MINA both evaluate numbers as text when supplied directly as arguments:

=MINA(5,"3") // returns 3
=MIN(5,"3") // returns 3

Notes

  • MINA ignores empty cells, but evaluates logical values and text values.
  • Arguments can be provided as numbers, names, arrays, or references.
  • If arguments contain no numeric values, MINA returns 0.
  • To ignore logical values and text, see the MIN function.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.