How to use MAX in Excel
The largest number.
Syntax
number1A range of numbers[number2]More numbers or ranges optionalExample
Here’s MAX on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=MAX(F2:F9)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with MAX
Dates are numbers too
MAX on a column of dates returns the latest date as a serial number. Format the cell as a date to read it.
Text numbers are ignored
Values stored as text are skipped. Convert them to numbers first.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=MAX(F2:F9
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the MAX function do in Excel?
The largest number. The syntax is MAX(number1, [number2], …).
Why is my MAX formula giving the wrong answer?
Dates are numbers too: MAX on a column of dates returns the latest date as a serial number. Format the cell as a date to read it. Text numbers are ignored: Values stored as text are skipped. Convert them to numbers first.
Does MAX work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.