MAX
Statistical
Returns the largest number in a set of values. Ignores text and logical values.
Translations
EnglishMAX
FrenchMAX
SpanishMAX
GermanMAX
ItalianMAX
PortugueseMÁXIMO
DutchMAX
PolishMAX
RussianМАКС
TurkishMAK
CzechMAX
HungarianMAX
SwedishMAX
DanishMAKS
FinnishMAKS
Syntax
MAX(number1, [number2], ...)Arguments
number1First number or rangenumber2Additional numbers or ranges(optional)
Examples
=MAX(A1:A10)Largest value
Finds maximum in range
=MAX(5,10,3,8)10
Returns 10 as the largest
=MAX(A1:A10,B1:B10)Max of both
Maximum across multiple ranges
Tips & Best Practices
- •Ignores text and logical values
- •Use MAXA to include logical values
- •Returns 0 if no numbers found
Common Mistakes
- •Expecting MAX to read text values that look like numbers as their numeric value - it treats them as 0 instead
- •Using MAX on a range that contains an error value, which makes the whole formula return an error instead of the largest valid number
- •Forgetting MAX ignores logical TRUE/FALSE values inside a referenced range, even though it would count them if typed directly into the formula
Related Functions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does MAX return 0 instead of the biggest number?
Check if every cell in the range is actually text formatted to look like a number - MAX treats those as 0, not their displayed value.
How do I get the max value only if a condition is met?
Use MAXIFS(max_range, criteria_range, criteria) to find the largest value that meets specific conditions.
Does MAX return an error if one cell in the range has an error?
Yes - any error in the range propagates to the result. Filter out errors first, or use AGGREGATE, if that's a problem.
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