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ABS function in Google Sheets

Returns the absolute value of a number.

=ABS(value)

ABS syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • valuenumberRequired

    The number of which to return 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 Excel

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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