Why finding the smallest or biggest number is useful

Finding the biggest number within a range of Excel cells is super easy.

Same for picking the smallest number.

There are many situations where you need to find the biggest/smallest, highest/lowest, longest/shortest value in a set of data. For example,

How to find the biggest number in Excel

Use the MAX function to find the biggest number in a list (or tallest, longest, most etc.)

=MAX(number1, number 2 …)

For example:

=MAX(A1,A2,A3)

​=MAX(A1:A10)

=MAX(TestScores)​

How to find the smallest number in Excel

Use the MIN function to find the smallest number in a list (or shortest, lowest, least etc.)

=MIN(number1, number 2 …)

For example:

​=MIN(B1,B2,B3)

=MIN(B1:B10)

​=MIN(DepartmentSpend)

The MAX and MIN functions can be selected from the AutoSum drop down menu, or by typing it directly into the cell.

Let’s say you have values in cells A1 to A10,

To use the AutoSum tool:

1. Select the 10 cells.
2. Click the drop-down arrow on the AutoSum icon.
3. Choose MAX or MIN.

1. Select a blank cell that will contain the extracted value.
2. Type ‘=MAX(’ or ‘=MIN(’.
3. With your mouse, select the range of cells that contains your data.
4. Type the closing bracket.
5. Press Enter.

Using either technique, the final formula will look like:

=MAX(A1:A10)

Wrapping Up