totn Excel Functions

MS Excel: How to use the MIN Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel MIN function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel MIN function returns the smallest value from the numbers provided.

The MIN function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Statistical Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the MIN function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the MIN function in Microsoft Excel is:

MIN( number1, [number2, ... number_n] )

Parameters or Arguments

number1
It can be a number, named range, array, or reference to a number.
number2, ... number_n
Optional. These are numeric values that can be numbers, named ranges, arrays, or references to numbers. There can be up to 30 values entered.

Returns

The MIN function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

  • Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

  • Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel MIN function examples and explore how to use the MIN function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following MIN examples would return:

=MIN(A2, A3)
Result: 7.2

=MIN(A3, A5, -3)
Result: -3

=MIN(A2:A6)
Result: 5.4

=MIN(A2:A6, 3.6)
Result: 3.6