Excel Training: Finding the Highest and Lowest Numbers

If you have a lot of data in Excel and you want to find the highest or lowest number in a row, column or range of cells, Excel provides an easy way to produce this answer for you, without the need to sort your data.

Lowest number:

The Excel function to find the lowest number in a range is =MIN()

For example, say you have a lot of numbers in cells C5 to C15. If you want to find the lowest number in that range, and show the answer in cell C4, you would:

  • Click on cell C4
  • Type: =MIN(
  • Use the mouse to select and drag from cell C5 to C15, let go of mouse button
  • Type: )
  • Press Enter.
Finding the lowest number in Excel using Min function
Finding the lowest number in Excel using Min function

Note: if you want to include another set of data, simply separate each range with a comma. eg. “C5:C15,E5:E15″

Highest number:

Similarly, if you want to find the highest number, say from a new range of numbers, D5 to D15, you would use the =MAX() function.

So, if you want to show the answer in cell D4, you would follow these steps:

  • Click on cell D4
  • Type: =MAX(
  • Use the mouse to select and drag from cell D5 to D15, let go of mouse button
  • Type: )
  • Press Enter.
Showing the highest number in Excel using the Max function
Finding the highest number in Excel using the Max function