Excel ABS Function
Syntax
What is the ABS function?
The ABS function in Excel returns the absolute value of a number — that is, the number without its sign. Negative numbers become positive, positive numbers stay unchanged, and zero remains zero. ABS is one of Excel's simplest yet most frequently used mathematical functions.
ABS Syntax
=ABS(number)
Where number is the value, cell reference, or formula whose absolute value you want to calculate.
Common Use Cases
ABS is widely used in budget variance reports, inventory reconciliation, distance calculations, statistical analysis (Mean Absolute Error), and financial cash flow analysis. Whenever the sign of a difference is irrelevant — only the magnitude matters — ABS is the right tool.
Examples
=ABS(-25)returns 25=ABS(B2-C2)returns absolute variance between budget and actual=AVERAGE(ABS(A1:A10-B1:B10))calculates Mean Absolute Error (array formula)
Common Errors
- #VALUE! when text is passed:
=ABS("abc") - #NAME? when wrong function name is used in localized Excel
- Empty cells return 0 — wrap with IF and ISBLANK if needed
Compatibility
ABS is available in all Excel versions since Excel 95, including Excel Online, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc.
Examples
| # | Title | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Negatif sayı | =MUTLAK(-25) |
25 |
| 2 | Pozitif sayı (değişmez) | =MUTLAK(25) |
25 |
| 3 | Hücre referansı | =MUTLAK(A1) |
A1=-3 ise sonuç 3 |
| 4 | Bütçe sapması | =MUTLAK(B2-C2) |
Tahmin ile gerçek farkı |
| 5 | Ortalama mutlak hata (MAE) | =ORTALAMA(MUTLAK(A1:A10-B1:B10)) |
Dizi formülü |
| 6 | Toplam mutlak sapma | =TOPLA(MUTLAK(A1:A10-ORTALAMA(A1:A10))) |
Veri yayılımı |
| 7 | EĞER ile koşul | =EĞER(MUTLAK(A1)>100;"Büyük";"Küçük") |
İşaretten bağımsız eşik |
| 8 | Negatif sıfır | =MUTLAK(0) |
0 |
Common Errors
Solution: Sayı veya sayı dönen formül kullan
Solution: TR=MUTLAK, EN=ABS
Solution: EĞER(BOŞSA(A1);"";MUTLAK(A1))
Solution: CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER ile gir
Frequently Asked Questions
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