How to Find the Minimum Value in Excel - 6 Easy Methods

the MIN function, the SMALL function, the MINIFS function, a Pivot table, and a VBA code can be used.

This is the sample datset.

Method 1 – Using the MIN Function to Find the Minimum Value in Excel

The MIN function returns the smallest numeric value in a range of values. The syntax for the MIN function is

MIN(number_range)

number_range: The range from which you want to find the minimum value.

Instead of the number_range, you can use multiple numbers separated by a comma (,), and the MIN function will return the minimum among them.

1.1 Finding the Minimum Value Within a Row

To find the minimum value each student has scored:

Step 1:

Select H5.
Enter the following formula.

=MIN(C5:F5)

Press ENTER.

Step 2:

Drag the Fill Handle to H17.

Step 3:

You will see all minimum scores in the H column.

1.2 Finding the Minimum Value Within a Column

Step 1:

Select H5.
Enter the following formula.

=MIN(C5:C17)

Press ENTER.

Step 2:.

Drag down the Fill Handle to E13.

Step 3:

You will see all minimum scores.

Method 2 – Utilizing the SMALL Function to Find the Minimum Value

The SMALL function returns numeric values based on their relative position in a data set.

SMALL(number_range, k)

number_range: The range in which you want to find the minimum value.

k: Specifies the position of the smallest value. It is an integer value.

k decides which of the values will be returned by the SMALL function. If you want the smallest value, use 1. For the second smallest use 2.

2.1 Finding the Minimum Value Within a Row

Step 1:

Select H5.
Enter the following formula.

=SMALL(C5:F5,1)

1 was chosen to find the least score.

Press ENTER.

Step 2:

Drag down the Fill Handle to H17.

Step 3:

You will see all the minimum scores for all students in column H.

2.2 Finding the Minimum Value Within a Column

Step 1:

Select H5.
Enter the following formula.

=SMALL(C5:C17,1)

Press ENTER.

Step 2:

Drag down the Fill Handle to E13.

Step 3:

You will see all minimum scores.

Method 3 – Combining the MIN and IF Functions to Find the Minimum Value

The IF function will check the criteria and the MIN function will find the minimum.

This is the formula:

MIN(IF(criteria_range=criteria,min_range))

Step 1:

Choose I5.
Enter the formula.

=MIN(IF(B5:B17=H5,C5:F17))

Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to find the result in the array formula.

Formula Breakdown

The IF function provides the criteria_range that is the column Student Name.
The entire data set is the range.
As the condition is matched, the MIN function will operate for min_range and return the minimum value: 50.

Step 2:

This is the output.

Method 4 – Inserting the MINIFS Function to Find the Minimum Value

The MINIFS function returns the smallest numeric value that meets one or more criteria in a range.

MINIFS (min_range, critera_range1, criteria1, [range2], [criteria2], …)

min_range: Range of values used.

criteria_range1: The first range to evaluate.

criteria1: Criteria to use on range1.

criteria_range2: The second range to evaluate.

criteria2: Criteria to use on range2.

Step 1:

Select I5.
The entire values in the table (C5:F17) and the Student Name column were set as criteria_range.
Enter the formula.

=MINIFS(C5:C17,B5:B17,H5)

Press ENTER.

Step 2:

This is the output.

Method 5. Using a Pivot Table to Find the Minimum Value

Step 1:

Select the table.
Go to the Insert tab.
Click Pivot Table.
Choose New Worksheet.
Click OK.

Step 2:

English course was selected and dragged to Values.
By default, the Pivot Table shows the sum of the values.
Right Click the Sum of English.

Step 3:

Click Value Field Settings.
A new dialog box will open.

Step 4:

Select Min and click OK or press ENTER.

Step 5:

Here, the Student Name was added as Rows in the Pivot Table.
You can see all scores and the minimum score.

Method 6 – Applying a VBA Code to Find the Minimum Value

Step 1:

Open the Developer tab.
Select Visual Basic.

Step 2:

In the Visual Basic window, select Insert.
Choose Module.

Step 3:

Enter the following VBA code.
Click “Run” or press F5 to run the code.

Sub Minimum_Value()
'declaring variable
Dim Mysheet As Worksheet
Set Mysheet = Worksheets("VBA")
'returning minimum value in a range
Mysheet.Range("C19") = Application.WorksheetFunction.Min(Mysheet.Range("C5:F17"))
End Sub