Syntax
ABS(number)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the ABS function. |
Examples
Get absolute difference between two values
Formula
=ABS(A2-B2)
Returns: 15 — the unsigned difference between the two values, whether A2 or B2 is larger
Convert negative numbers to positive
Formula
=ABS(A2)
Returns: 42 — from either -42 or 42, the result is always 42
Calculate variance magnitude
Formula
=IF(ABS(A2-B2)>100, "Significant", "Normal")
Returns: "Significant" if budget and actual differ by more than $100 in either direction
Common Errors
#VALUE!
The argument is text, not a number. ABS requires a numeric value or a cell reference containing a number.
Tips
Percentage difference
=ABS(A1-B1)/A1 gives the absolute percentage change, always positive regardless of increase or decrease.
Distance formula
=ABS(A1-B1)+ABS(A2-B2) calculates Manhattan distance. For Euclidean distance, use SQRT(A^2+B^2).
Error margins
=ABS(actual-expected)<tolerance is a common pattern for checking if a value is within an acceptable range.
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