We often work with ranges in Excel where we need to find the largest value based on certain criteria. The MAX IF criteria match helps us to find the largest value within a range of cells based on a specific condition. In this tutorial, we will learn how to use the MAXIF criteria match in Excel.
Figure 1. Example of Using the Max if Criteria Match
Generic Formula
{=MAX(IF(criteria_range=criteria,value_range))}
- Criteria_range: This is a required value. It is an array of heterogeneous values contain subsets of homogeneous values. It is the filter boundary.
- Criteria: This value is required as well. It is the actual value that we check in the criteria range.
- Value_range: Value_range is also a required value. This is the array list of values. We look to find the largest from this array based on the criteria from the criteria_range.
How this formula works
This formula is based on the MAX and IF functions. First, IF tests whether the criteria_range contains the criteria value. As we compare the criteria with an array, Excel will return an array as the result. This array will contain the logical values TRUE or FALSE. The TRUE values will exist where the criteria exists within the criteria_range. The IF function will return an array consisting of the values from value_range. Here the criteria exists in the criteria_range. Finally, MAX extracts the max value from this array returned by IF.
Setting Up Data
The following example uses a beverage sale data set. Column A, B and C has the beverage names, quantity and sales.
Figure 2. The Sample Beverage Sales Data Set
To find the largest revenue among the beverages in column C:
- Go to cell F7.
- Assign the formula
=MAX(IF(A2:A20=F6,C2:C20))to cell F5. - Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER as it is an array formula.
Figure 3. Applying the Formula to the data
This will show the max sales among the beverages in F7.
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