Math
MAX
Definition
MAX returns the largest number among the values you give it.
Syntax
=MAX(number1, [number2], ...)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
number1 |
The first value to compare: a number, a cell, or a range such as B2:B4. |
number2, ... |
Optional extra values or ranges to compare against. |
Worked example
A game club keeps each player's best score. The scores are in B2:B4.
| A: Player | B: Best score |
|---|---|
| Kai | 3150 |
| Noor | 4820 |
| Leo | 2975 |
Formula: =MAX(B2:B4)
Result: 4820. Noor's 4820 is higher than 3150 and 2975.
Practice
Cells G2:G5 hold the weights of four parcels in grams: 215, 98, 340, and 276. Write a formula that returns the heaviest weight.
- In G6, write a MAX formula for G2:G5.
- G6 should show the highest value in G2:G5.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =MAX(G2:G5) in G6.
340 is higher than 215, 98, and 276.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
G6 uses MAX.
G6 now shows 340.
Related functions
MAX gives the highest value, MIN gives the lowest from the same cells, and AVERAGE describes the typical value between them.
Common mistake
Expecting MAX to return the name beside the biggest number; it returns only the number itself, so you need a separate lookup to find who owns it.