MODE.SNGL Function

Excel Functions › Statistical

Excel 2010+ Statistical

The Excel MODE.SNGL function returns the most frequently occurring value in a set of numbers — the modern replacement for the legacy MODE function.


Quick answer:
=MODE.SNGL({1,2,2,3,4,2,5}) most frequent value = 2

Syntax

=MODE.SNGL(number1, [number2], ...)
ArgumentDescription
number1RequiredThe first number, cell reference, or range to evaluate.
number2, ...OptionalUp to 254 additional numbers or ranges. MODE.SNGL returns the single value that appears most often.

How to use it

MODE.SNGL scans the numbers and returns the one that repeats most often. It is the direct successor to the old MODE function and gives identical results.

=MODE.SNGL({1,2,2,3,4,2,5}) // 2 appears three times = 2
=MODE.SNGL(A2:A100) // most common value in the range

If two or more values tie for most frequent, MODE.SNGL returns the first one it encounters in the data. To list every tied mode instead, use MODE.MULT. If no value repeats at all, the function returns #N/A.

Mode, median, mean: the mode is the most common value, the median is the middle value, and the mean (AVERAGE) is the arithmetic center. For categorical-style numeric data (ratings, sizes), the mode is often the most meaningful.

Try it: interactive demo

Live demo

Pick a MODE.SNGL example to see the formula and its result.

Result:

Practice workbook

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Frequently asked questions

What does MODE.SNGL do when there are two modes?
It returns the first value (in data order) that reaches the highest frequency. To get all tied modes, use MODE.MULT, which returns an array.
Is MODE.SNGL the same as the old MODE function?
Yes — MODE.SNGL was introduced in Excel 2010 to replace MODE and returns identical results. The legacy MODE still works for backward compatibility.
Why does MODE.SNGL return #N/A?
Because no value repeats — if every number is unique there is no mode, and MODE.SNGL returns the #N/A error. Wrap it in IFERROR to handle that case.
Does MODE.SNGL work on text?
No. It evaluates numbers only and ignores text, logical values, and blanks inside a range. To find the most common text label, use INDEX with MATCH and COUNTIF instead.

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Related functions: MODE.MULT · MEDIAN · AVERAGE · COUNTIF · FREQUENCY · MAX