ABS Formula — Absolute Value in Excel & Google Sheets (Free Tool)

Returns the absolute value of a number (removes the negative sign).

Generated Formula
=ABS(number)

Learning Resources

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Common Errors & Fixes

  • ABS not removing the negative sign from a date

    Causes:
    • Excel stores dates as serial numbers. A negative date serial number results when you subtract a later date from an earlier one.
    • The value might be text, not a number.
    Fixes:
    • Ensure the value is numeric. Use VALUE() to convert text to a number.
    • For date differences, use DATEDIF or DAYS instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ABS do?

ABS returns the absolute value of a number, removing any negative sign. ABS(-5) returns 5, ABS(5) returns 5, and ABS(0) returns 0.

Does ABS work with negative numbers?

Yes. ABS converts negative numbers to positive by removing the minus sign. This is useful for calculating differences regardless of direction.

Does ABS work in Google Sheets?

Yes, ABS works identically in Google Sheets with the same syntax.

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