How to use ABS Google Sheets formula?

The syntax for the ABS formula is =ABS(value), it has 1 required parameter.

ABS

The ABS formula returns the absolute value of a number. The absolute value of a number is the distance between the number and zero on a number line, regardless of whether the number is negative or positive. It is commonly used to convert negative numbers to positive numbers or to ignore the negative sign of a number in calculations.

How to use ABS formula?
Examples of using ABS formula
ABS formula not working?
Similar formulas to ABS

Usage

Use the ABS formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter:

=ABS(value)

Parameters:

value (required):
The value or cell reference to calculate the absolute value of.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the ABS formula in Google Sheets.

Converting negative numbers to positive

The ABS formula can be used to convert negative numbers to positive numbers. For example, you can use ABS to convert -5 to 5.

Ignoring negative signs in calculations

When performing calculations with numbers that may be negative or positive, you can use ABS to ignore the negative sign of a number. For example, you can use ABS in the formula =SUM(ABS(A1),ABS(A2)) to add the absolute values of the numbers in cells A1 and A2.

Common Mistakes

ABS not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the ABS Google Sheets Formula:

Using non-numeric value for value argument

The ABS formula only works with numeric values. If you use a non-numeric value for the value argument, the formula will return an error. To correct this mistake, ensure that the value argument is a numeric value.

Forgetting to close the parentheses

If you forget to close the parentheses after the value argument, the formula will return an error. To correct this mistake, ensure that you close the parentheses after the value argument.

Using the wrong value for the value argument

If you use the wrong value for the value argument, the formula will return an incorrect result. Ensure that you use the correct value for the value argument.

The following functions are similar to ABS or are often used with it in a formula:

SUM
The SUM function in Google Sheets adds up a range of numbers. This function is most commonly used to sum the values in a range of cells.
PRODUCT
The PRODUCT formula in Google Sheets multiplies all the numbers given in the arguments and returns the product. It is commonly used to calculate the total product of a range of cells.
ROUND
The ROUND formula rounds a number to a specified number of decimal places. It is commonly used to simplify large numbers or to make a number more readable. The formula can round both positive and negative numbers. If the places parameter is not specified, the formula rounds to the nearest integer.

Learn More

You can learn more about the ABS Google Sheets function on Google Support.

ABS