Excel MAX IF Function (Table of Contents)
MAX IF in Excel
In Microsoft excel MAX and IF are two separate built-in functions in excel where MAX built-in function is used to find out the largest number from the given data. IF is also a built-in function which is mostly used in conditional statements to check whether the given data is correct or not where it uses the logical condition, if the value is correct it returns the one values as TRUE or else it will return the value as FALSE.
In Microsoft Excel, there is no such separate syntax for MAXIF function but we can combine the MAX and IF function in an array formula.
MAX Formula in Excel
Below is the MAX Formula in Excel:
Arguments of MAX Formula:
- number1: This number1 refers to numeric value or range which contains a numeric value.
- number2 [optional]: This number2 refers to numeric value or range which contains a numeric value.
IF Formula in Excel
Below is the IF Formula in Excel:
Arguments of IF Formula:
- Logical test: Which is a logical expression value to check the value is TRUE or FALSE.
- value _if_ true: Which is a value that returns if the logical test is true.
- value _if_ false: Which is a value that returns if the logical test is false.
How to Use MAX IF Function in Excel?
MAX and IF Functions in Excel is very simple and easy to use. Let’s understand the working of MAX IF Function in Excel with some example.
Example #1 – MAX Function in Excel
In this example, we will first learn how to use the MAX function with the below example.
Consider the below example which shows sales data of the product category wise.
Now we will use the MAX function to find out which has the largest sales value by following the below steps.
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Step 1 – First, select the new cell i.e. D11.
Step 2 – Apply the MAX function i.e. =MAX(D2:D9)
Step 3 – Press enter so that we will get the MAX value as 1250 which is shown in the below screenshot.
In the below result, Max function will check for the largest number in D column and return the maximum sales value as 1250.
Example #2 – Using MAX IF Function in Excel with an array formula
In this example, we will learn how to use MAX IF function in Excel. Assume that we need to check the largest sales value category wise. Using only max function we can check only the maximum value but we cannot check the maximum value category wise if the sales data contain huge category and sales value.
In such a case, we can combine MAX and If Function with an array formula so that it makes the task very easier to find out the largest sales value category wise in Excel.
Consider the below example which has Product Name, Category and Sales value which is shown below.
Now we will apply the Excel MAX IF function to find out the maximum sales value by following the below steps.
Step 1 – First, we will create a new table with a category name to display the result as shown below.
Step 2 – Select cell G4.
Step 3 – Apply the MAX IF formula i.e. =MAX(IF(C$2:C13=F4,D2:D13))
In the above formula we have applied MAX and IF function and then we selected the Column C2 to C13 where we have listed the category name as C2:C13 and then we have checked the condition by selecting the cell as F4 where F4 column is nothing but Category Name.
Now the if condition will check for the entire category name in C2 to C13 column whether its matches with the mentioned Category name in the F4 column, If the category name matches it will return the largest sales value from the selected D column as D2 to D13 and lock the cells by pressing F4 where we will get the $ symbol to indicate that cells are locked and we have given the Formula as =MAX(IF($C$2:$C$13=F4,$D$2:$D$13)).
After the MAXIF function is completed by closing all the brackets now hold SHIFT+CTRL and then press enter as SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER so that we will get the output in array formula where we will get open and closing parenthesis at the opening and end of the statement which is shown in the below screenshot.
Here as we can see in the above screenshot MAX IF function check for the category name in D column as well as in F column and if it matches it will return the largest value, Here in this example we got the output as 330 which is a largest sales value in the category.
Now drag down the MAX IF formulas for all the cell so that we will get the output result which is shown below.
Example #3 – Using MAX IF Function in Excel with an array formula
In this example, we will use the same Excel MAX IF function to find out the highest marks from a set of students.
Consider the below example which shows student name along with their Gender and Marks which is shown below.
Here in this example, we are going to find out Gender wise who has scored the highest marks by following the below steps.
Step 1 – First, create a new table with Male and Female as a separate column to display the result which is shown below.
Step 2 – Now we will apply the Excel MAX IF function as follows. Select cell D11.
Step 3 – Insert the MAX IF function by selecting the Gender column from C2 to C9.
Now we have to give the condition as IF(C2:C9=C11,D2:D9) which means that IF condition will check for the gender from C2 column whether it matches with C11 and If the gender matches MAX IF function will return the highest value.
Step 4 – Now lock the cells by pressing F4 so that the selected cells will be locked which is shown in the below screenshot.
Step 5 – Once we complete the MAXIF function, Hit SHIFT+CRL+ENTER to make it as an array formula so that we can see the opening and closing parenthesis in the MAX IF function which is shown below.
In the above screenshot, we can see that we got the highest mark as 95 for the gender MALE.
Step 6 – Drag down the formula for all the below cells so that we will get the output as shown below.
In the above result using the Excel MAX IF function, we have found the highest marks gender wise where MALE has scored 95 as the highest mark and for FEMALE we got 93 as the Highest mark.
Things to Remember
- In Microsoft Excel, there is no such MAX IF function like SUMIF and COUNTIF.
- We can use the MAX and IF function by combining it in the formulation.
- MAX IF function will throw an error #VALUE! If we did not apply the SHIFT+ENTER +KEY, make sure that you are using MAX IF function as an array formula.
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