Excel MIN Formula Examples for Common Tasks

If your numbers are in A2:A10, use =MIN(A2:A10) to return the smallest numeric value in that range. Excel’s MIN function can also compare separate ranges, find the lowest value that meets a condition, and identify the earliest date.

What the MIN function does

MIN returns the lowest number among the values you provide. It is useful for tasks such as finding the cheapest price, shortest completion time, lowest temperature, or earliest date in a list. The result is a single value; MIN does not rearrange your data or identify the row that contains the minimum.

The function’s basic structure is a function name followed by one or more numbers, cell references, or ranges in parentheses. In Microsoft 365 for Windows, type the formula in a blank cell and press Enter. Excel will display the result there. If the input values change, the result updates automatically, provided calculation is set to Automatic.

For example, suppose A2:A6 contains 18, 7, 12, 4, and 9. With those values in A2:A6, enter =MIN(A2:A6); the result is 4. A range reference is usually easier to maintain than typing values directly into a formula, especially when the list may grow.

Find the minimum in one or more ranges

A single range is the most common use, but MIN can compare multiple ranges and individual values in one formula. Each range can be on the same worksheet, and the ranges do not need to be adjacent.

With daily readings in B2:B31, enter =MIN(B2:B31) to return the lowest reading. This assumes B2:B31 contains the readings; if the lowest is 3.6, the formula returns 3.6.
With first-quarter sales in B2:B6 and second-quarter sales in D2:D6, enter =MIN(B2:B6,D2:D6) to find the smallest value across both ranges. If the values in B2:B6 are 12, 15, 9, 20, and 11, and those in D2:D6 are 8, 14, 16, 10, and 13, the result is 8.
With scores in A2:A5, enter =MIN(A2:A5,0) to compare those scores with zero. The result will be zero or the lowest score if a score is below zero. Adding a value like zero can be useful as a deliberate comparison, but it can also force a result that is not present in the data.

Separate ranges are divided by commas in standard Excel settings. If a formula in a workbook uses semicolons, the computer’s regional settings may use a different list separator; follow the separator Excel inserts when you build the formula.

Find the smallest value that meets a condition

MIN examines all included numbers and does not apply a filter condition by itself. For a conditional minimum, use MINIFS, available in Microsoft 365 and newer Excel versions. MINIFS takes the range to evaluate first, followed by a criteria range and the condition to apply.

Suppose A2:A7 contains product categories and B2:B7 contains their prices. If A2:A7 contains Books, Games, Books, Games, Books, and Games, while B2:B7 contains 12, 18, 9, 15, 14, and 11, enter =MINIFS(B2:B7,A2:A7,"Books") to find the lowest price for Books. The result is 9, from the third row.

Criteria can use comparison operators as text. With quantities in B2:B10 and the same quantities serving as the values to evaluate, enter =MINIFS(B2:B10,B2:B10,">0") to find the smallest positive quantity. If the values are -3, 0, 2, 7, and 4, the result is 2. This condition excludes zero and negative values; it is not the right choice if negative values should count.

For multiple conditions, add another criteria-range and criteria pair. For example, if A2:A20 holds regions, B2:B20 holds product names, and C2:C20 holds prices, enter =MINIFS(C2:C20,A2:A20,"West",B2:B20,"Notebook") to return the lowest price for Notebook sales in the West region. If no rows meet all the conditions, MINIFS returns 0, so check the criteria and matching rows if zero would not make sense for your data.

Use MIN with dates and times

Excel stores dates as serial numbers and times as fractions of a day, so MIN can compare them just as it compares other numeric values. The displayed result depends on the cell’s number format. If a date result appears as a number, format the result cell as a date; the underlying minimum has not necessarily been calculated incorrectly.

With dates in C2:C8, enter =MIN(C2:C8) to return the earliest date. For example, if the cells contain 6/14/2026, 5/28/2026, and 6/2/2026, along with later dates, the result is 5/28/2026 when displayed using a date format. To find the earliest date for a particular category, use MINIFS with the date column as the minimum range and the category column as the criteria range.

The same principle applies to times: MIN returns the earliest time value. Check whether the source cells contain actual Excel dates or times rather than text that merely looks like a date. Text entries may not be included in the calculation, which can make a result appear incomplete.

Find a minimum in each row or across selected cells

MIN can compare cells across a row as well as down a column. This is handy when each row represents one person, product, or test and several columns contain comparable measurements.

With three test scores in B2:D2, enter =MIN(B2:D2) in E2 to return that row’s lowest score. If B2:D2 contains 72, 68, and 81, E2 returns 68. Copy the formula down column E to calculate the minimum for each following row; Excel adjusts the row references automatically.

To compare selected cells that are not next to one another, list their references as separate arguments. With morning, afternoon, and evening readings in B2, D2, and F2, enter =MIN(B2,D2,F2). The formula returns the smallest of those three cells without including the values in the columns between them.

What MIN ignores, and what it does not

MIN includes numbers in referenced cells. In a referenced range, it ignores blank cells, text, and logical values such as TRUE and FALSE. A number stored as text can therefore be left out, even if it looks like a number on the worksheet. This is one reason a minimum may not match what a quick visual scan suggests.

Text or logical values entered directly as function arguments behave differently from values found in a cell reference. To avoid confusion, keep numeric data as numbers in cells and refer to those cells or ranges. If a range contains text labels, such as product names in one column and prices in another, point MIN at the price column rather than the whole table.

Errors in a referenced range can cause MIN to return an error rather than a minimum. Inspect the source cells if the result shows an error such as #VALUE! or #N/A. Also check whether the range reference includes the intended rows and whether numeric-looking entries are stored as numbers. Converting imported text to numbers may be necessary before MIN can evaluate those entries as expected.

Minimum values in filtered lists and common pitfalls

Filtering a table hides rows from view, but a normal MIN formula still considers values in filtered-out rows. That behavior is useful when the goal is the minimum across the full dataset, regardless of what is currently displayed. It can be surprising when you expect the result to reflect only visible records.

For a minimum that responds to an AutoFilter, use SUBTOTAL with function number 5. With values in B2:B20, enter =SUBTOTAL(5,B2:B20) to return the minimum among rows that remain visible after filtering. SUBTOTAL excludes filtered-out rows. Function number 5 still includes rows hidden manually; use 105 instead if manually hidden rows should also be excluded. With values in B2:B20, =SUBTOTAL(105,B2:B20) returns the minimum from visible rows while excluding both filtered-out and manually hidden rows.

Other common causes of unexpected results include selecting the wrong range, including a header row, or assuming that zero means “missing.” MIN treats a real zero as a valid number, so zero will be the answer if it is the lowest value. If zero is a placeholder for missing data, correct or exclude those entries deliberately rather than expecting MIN to disregard them automatically.

MIN compared with related functions

Choose a function based on the question you need answered. MIN is best for the lowest numeric value across a range. MINIFS is for the lowest value that satisfies one or more criteria. SUBTOTAL is useful when a minimum should respond to filtered rows. MAX returns the highest value instead of the lowest.

MIN returns the value, not its location or label. If you need to know which product or person is associated with the minimum, you need an additional lookup step. For example, with product names in A2:A10 and prices in B2:B10, first calculate the minimum price in a separate cell using =MIN(B2:B10). You can then match that result back to the price list using an appropriate lookup formula. If the minimum occurs more than once, a lookup generally returns one matching record, so decide whether you need one result or every tied record.

MINA is another related function, but it treats logical values and text differently from MIN when they appear in references. For ordinary numeric measurements, MIN is usually the clearer choice. Use a different function only when its specific treatment of nonnumeric values is part of the intended calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does MIN include zero?
Yes. Zero is a number, so it counts and will be returned if it is the smallest value in the range. If zeros represent missing data, adjust the source data or use a conditional approach that matches the rule you want.

Why does MIN return 0 when I cannot see a zero?
Check the full referenced range for zeros, including hidden or filtered-out rows. A conditional MINIFS formula can also return 0 when no rows meet its criteria. Confirm that the criteria match the source data and that the range covers the intended records.

Does MIN ignore blank cells and text?
Yes, when those values are in referenced cells or ranges, MIN ignores blank cells and text. It also ignores logical values in references. Numbers stored as text may be ignored, so convert them to numeric values if they should count.

How do I find the smallest value but ignore zeros?
For a list where only positive values should count, use MINIFS with a greater-than-zero criterion. With values in B2:B20, enter =MINIFS(B2:B20,B2:B20,">0"). This excludes both zero and negative numbers, so it is not suitable when negative values should remain eligible.

Can MIN find the earliest date?
Yes. Dates are stored as numbers, so MIN returns the earliest date in a range of real Excel dates. Format the result cell as a date if Excel displays a serial number instead of a calendar date.

Why does MIN not change when I filter a table?
A standard MIN formula includes values in filtered-out rows. Use SUBTOTAL with function number 5 to calculate the minimum among rows left visible by a filter. Use 105 if manually hidden rows should be excluded as well.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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