How to Use ABS Function in Excel: Absolute Value Made Easy

Use the ABS function in Excel to get the absolute value of a number, which means it converts negative numbers to positive. Simply enter =ABS(number) where number is the cell or value you want to convert.

Syntax

The ABS function has a simple syntax with one part:

• number: The number or cell reference you want to find the absolute value of.

It returns the positive value of the number, ignoring any negative sign.

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=ABS(number)

Example

This example shows how to use ABS to convert negative and positive numbers to positive values.

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A1: -15
A2: 20
A3: -7

B1: =ABS(A1)
B2: =ABS(A2)
B3: =ABS(A3)

Output

B1: 15
B2: 20
B3: 7

Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when using ABS include:

• Forgetting to use the equal sign = before the function.
• Using text or empty cells as input, which causes errors.
• Expecting ABS to change the original cell value instead of returning a new value.

Always use =ABS(cell) in a new cell to see the absolute value.

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Wrong: ABS(A1)  (missing = sign)
Right: =ABS(A1)

Quick Reference

Function	Description	Example	Result
ABS(number)	Returns absolute value of number	=ABS(-10)	10
ABS(cell)	Returns absolute value of cell content	=ABS(A1)	Positive number if A1 is negative
ABS(0)	Returns zero if input is zero	=ABS(0)	0

Key Takeaways

Use =ABS(number) to get the positive value of any number in Excel.

ABS removes negative signs but does not change the original cell value.

Always start formulas with = to avoid errors.

ABS works with numbers and cell references, not text.

Use ABS to simplify calculations that require only positive numbers.