MAX - Find the largest number
Identify peak order volume, the highest amount, or the largest measurement without confusing a peak with a total.
By the end, you can
- Return the largest numeric value.
- Recognize what a peak does and does not describe.
- Handle negative values, blanks, and errors correctly.
Before you start: Read a column of numeric data and a cell range.
In this lesson
Plan for the busiest day
MAX returns the largest number in its inputs. A warehouse planner can find peak daily orders to understand the highest observed workload. Finance can find the largest invoice, and operations can compare maximum delivery durations. MAX gives a peak value; SUM gives the total and AVERAGE gives the mean.
Syntax and arguments
=MAX(number1, [number2], ...)One range is enough for a column; additional arguments can combine selected cells or other ranges.
| Argument | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
number1Required | The first numeric value or range to compare. | B2:B6 |
number2, …Optional | Additional values or ranges, up to 255 arguments total. | D2:D6 |
Warehouse: peak daily dispatch orders
118| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day | Orders | Peak | |
| 2 | Monday | 82 | 118 | |
| 3 | Tuesday | 105 | ||
| 4 | Wednesday | 96 | ||
| 5 | Thursday | 118 | ||
| 6 | Friday | 91 |
=MAX(B2:B6)118 exceeds 82, 105, 96, and 91.
Select days or compare with a benchmark
=MAX(B2,B4,B6)Among 82, 96, and 91, the largest is 96.
=MAX(B2:B6,120)Compare the observed days with a separately supplied 120-order benchmark.
=MAX(-8,-3)−3 is greater than −8. MAX does not automatically replace negative values with zero.
Not every visible entry is a number
- Numeric zero and negative values are included; MAX chooses the greatest value on the number line.
- Text, logical values, and blanks in referenced cells are ignored. Numbers stored as text can make a genuine peak disappear.
- A referenced error propagates. If no numeric values are supplied, MAX returns 0.
- Numbers in hidden or filtered-out rows remain included. The largest value does not automatically identify its row, and ties may exist.
Excel can coerce numeric text or logical values typed directly as arguments; referenced cells follow the numeric-only rule above. In Excel, real dates can be compared with MAX to find the latest date.
Common mistakes and practical tips
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