Quick Navigation
MAXA Function
Summary
The MAXA function in Excel finds the maximum value from a list of arguments, uniquely including logical values (TRUE=1, FALSE=0) and text representations of numbers while ignoring empty cells and non-numeric text.
Syntax
MAXA(value1,[value2],...)Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| value1 | Any |
Yes | First argument - can be number, range, logical value, or text number |
| value2,... | Any |
No | Optional additional arguments up to 255 total |
Using the MAXA Function
Use MAXA when you need to find the largest value across mixed data types including logical values and text numbers. Unlike MAX, MAXA considers TRUE as 1 and includes directly-typed text numbers.
Common MAXA Examples
Basic MAXA with Logical Values
=MAXA(A1:A5)Data: 0.2, 0.5, 0.4, TRUE, 0. Returns 1 because TRUE=1 is largest.
MAXA vs MAX Comparison
=MAXA(0.3,"0.8",FALSE,1)Returns 1 (includes text "0.8" as 0.8). MAX would ignore text.
Empty Cells Ignored
=MAXA(A1:A10)Skips blank cells in range, uses only numeric/logical values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Errors and Solutions
#VALUE! error
Cause: Arguments contain error values or unconvertible text
Solution: Remove error cells or use IFERROR wrapper
Unexpected low result
Cause: TRUE values treated as 1, text as 0 ignored in ranges
Solution: Verify data types or use MAX instead
Notes
- TRUE evaluates to 1, FALSE to 0
- Empty cells in ranges are ignored
- Text in ranges ignored, but direct text numbers counted
- Error values propagate as errors
- Maximum 255 arguments total
Compatibility
Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365
Not available in: Excel 2003 and earlier
Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+