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Excel

ABS function in Excel

Returns the absolute value of a number

=ABS(number)

ABS syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • numbernumberRequired

    The real number of which you want the absolute value.

ABS examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. The size of a variance, ignoring its direction:

    =ABS(B2 - C2)

    Result340

  2. Total absolute error between forecast and actual:

    =SUMPRODUCT(ABS(B2:B50 - C2:C50))

    Result4120

ABS in Google Sheets

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try ABS in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the ABS formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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Related functions

More ways Excel gets this done.