Question EN

How do I get the absolute value in Excel?

Answer

The ABS function returns the absolute value of a number. For example, =ABS(-15) returns 15, and =ABS(15) also returns 15.

Detailed explanation

The absolute value is a number without its sign. In Excel, use the ABS function for this.

Syntax

=ABS(number)

Examples

=ABS(-15) → 15
=ABS(15) → 15
=ABS(A1-B1) → difference between cells without the sign

When It's Useful

Calculating deviations: when you care about the size of the difference, not the direction
Checking tolerances: =ABS(actual-target)
Distance between points: =ABS(X1-X2)

Combined with Other Functions

=IF(ABS(A1-B1)<0.01, "Equal", "Different")

Compares numbers with a tolerance for small differences.

02.02.2026 Excel / Google Sheets

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Related Questions

How do I calculate a percentage in Excel?

Multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100. For example, =A1*15/100 or simply =A1*15% — Excel understands both.

How do I round numbers in Excel?

Use the ROUND function: ROUND(number, decimals). For example, =ROUND(3.14159, 2) returns 3.14. For rounding up use ROUNDUP, for down use ROUNDDOWN.

How do I calculate an average in Excel?

The AVERAGE function calculates the arithmetic mean. For example, =AVERAGE(A1:A10) computes the average of a 10-cell range.

How do I raise a number to a power in Excel?

Use the ^ operator or the POWER function. For example, =2^3 or =POWER(2,3) — both return 8 (two cubed).

How do I combine text from multiple cells in Excel?

Use the & operator or the CONCATENATE function. For example, =A1&" "&B1 joins cell contents with a space between them.

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