The Excel MIN Function

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Related Functions:  MINA Function MAX Function MAXA Function LARGE Function SMALL Function

The Excel MIN function returns the smallest value from a supplied set of numerical values.

The syntax of the function is :

where the number arguments are a set of one or more numeric values, or arrays of numeric values, that you want to return the smallest value of. These values can be supplied directly to the function, as cells containing numeric values, or as values returned from other excel formulas.

In Excel 2007 & Excel 2010, you can provide up to 255 number arguments to the function, but in Excel 2003 or earlier, you can only provide up to 30 number arguments.

If an argument is supplied to the function as a reference to a cell, or an array of cells, the Min function will ignore blank cells, and text or logical values contained within the supplied cell range. However, logical values and text representations of numbers that are supplied directly to the function will be included in the calculation.

Excel Min vs. Excel Mina

The Mina Function is very similar to the Min function. The only difference is when an argument is supplied to the function as a reference to a cell or an array of cells. In this case the Min function ignores logical and text values, while the Mina function counts the logical value TRUE as 1, the logical value FALSE as 0 and text values as 0.

Excel Min Function Example

The following example shows the Min function used to retrieve the smallest value from the set of values in cells A1 - A5.

The format of the function is shown in the spreadsheet on the left and the resulting value is shown in the spreadsheet on the right.

Formulas:

Results:

Further examples of the Excel Min function can be found on the Microsoft Office website.

Min Function Error

If you get an error from the Excel Min Function, this is likely to be the #VALUE! error: