The Excel MAX function returns the largest number in a set of values, references, or ranges — one of Excel's most-used functions for finding peaks, ceilings, and top values.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number1 | Required | The first number, cell reference, or range to evaluate. |
number2, ... | Optional | Up to 254 additional numbers or ranges. Text, logical values, and empty cells in a range are ignored. |
How to use it
MAX scans every argument and returns the single highest number. You can mix literals, cells, and whole ranges in one call.
Inside a referenced range, text and logical values are ignored — if you need TRUE to count as 1 and text as 0, use MAXA instead. A common trick is =MAX(0, value) to clamp a number so it never goes negative.
Conditional max: to find the largest value that meets criteria, use MAXIFS (Excel 2019+), e.g. =MAXIFS(sales, region, "West").
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a MAX example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Does MAX ignore text and blank cells?
MAXA.How do I find the maximum based on a condition?
MAXIFS (Excel 2019+): =MAXIFS(values, criteria_range, criteria). In older versions use an array formula like =MAX(IF(...)) entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.What is the difference between MAX and LARGE?
LARGE(range,k) returns the k-th largest, so LARGE(range,1) equals MAX but you can also get the 2nd, 3rd, etc.What does MAX return if there are no numbers?
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