Excel MAX Function (Largest Value) – Examples & Practice
Practice the Excel MAX function online with an interactive grid, instant feedback, and clear formula help.
Instruction
Return the largest value in range B2:B6.
Formula Syntax
=MAX(number1, [number2], ...)
- number1: First number, cell, or range.
- [number2]: Optional additional numbers or ranges.
- ...: Up to 255 arguments.
What it does
MAX returns the largest numeric value from a set of numbers. It is commonly used for peaks, latest dates, and upper caps.
Excel MAX Function Examples
Maximum in a range
=MAX(B2:B6)
Returns the largest number.
Compare two columns
=MAX(A2, B2)
Row-wise maximum of two cells.
numeric-practice-sheet.xlsx
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Input 1 | 120 |
| 3 | Input 2 | -45 |
| 4 | Input 3 | 560.25 |
| 5 | Input 4 | 225.8 |
| 6 | Input 5 | 90 |
| 7 | Output |
Input Formula
Need Help?
Tips
- Use LARGE when you need top N, not only top 1.
- Document whether ties are acceptable in reporting.
- Combine with IF when you need conditional peaks.
MAX Function Use Cases
- Find peak sales, temperature, or utilization
- Latest date in a list
- Caps for pricing or limits in models
- Highlight top values with conditional formatting
- Pair with MIN for range summaries
Common mistakes - MAX function not working
- Confusing MAX with RANK
- Including non-numeric noise without cleaning
- Expecting MAX to ignore zeros when zeros matter
- Using MAX when LARGE with k is needed
- Whole-column MAX on huge sheets without reason
FAQ
Does MAX ignore text?
Text is typically ignored when computing MAX over numeric ranges.
Does MAX work with dates?
Yes. MAX returns the latest date in a numeric date range.
MAX vs LARGE?
LARGE can return the k-th largest; MAX only returns the top value.
Can MAX handle multiple ranges?
Yes. Use commas between arguments.
What if the range is empty?
You may see 0 or an error; validate inputs.
Comparison
| Function | Returns |
|---|---|
| MAX | Largest value |
| MIN | Smallest value |
| LARGE | k-th largest |
Example
=MAX(B2:B6).
Advanced examples
Conditional maximum
Consider MAXIFS or FILTER patterns when the max should only consider rows that match rules.