Finding the Smallest Value in Google Sheets – MIN vs MINA

MIN and MINA functions identify the smallest value in your data set but differ in handling non-numeric characters. Make a copy of this spreadsheet to follow along.

MIN

• Focuses solely on numbers.
• Ignores text and logical values (TRUE/FALSE).
• Useful for finding the minimum value within a range of cells containing only numbers.

MINA

• Considers all values, including text and boolean.
• Converts text and logical (boolean) values to numbers before comparison.
  • Treats text as 0.
  • Treats TRUE as 1 and FALSE as 0.
• Ideal for finding the minimum when your data might include non-numeric entries.

Examples – Finding the Smallest Value

Example 1: Numbers Only

First, we will find the lowest number in a data set consisting only of numbers.

=MIN(A2:A4) = 5 (correctly identifies the minimum numeric value)

=MINA(B2:B4) = 5 (also returns 5 as there are no non-numeric entries)

Both functions handle numbers in the same way. They evaluate the 10, 5, and 8 and determine 5 is the smallest.

Example 2: Dates

Next, we’ll look at a list of days and determine the earliest.

=MIN(A1:A3) = May 6, 2014 (returns the earliest date)

=MINA(B1:B3) = May 6, 2014 (returns the earliest date)

Dates are stored as numbers, and each successive day is one more than the last. Therefore, sorting through dates for the earliest day is easy for both functions. Each function determined that May 6, 2014, is the earliest date of the three.

Example 3: Numbers and Text

=MIN(A2:A4) = 3 (MIN ignores “Apple” and looks at 3 and 7)

=MINA(B2:B4) = 0 (“Apple” is treated as a 0, which is the minimum)

Example 4: Numbers and Logical Values

Lastly, let’s look at a combination of logical and numerical values. The checked boxes represent TRUE, and unchecked represent FALSE.

=MIN(A2:A4) = 4 (ignores the logical values)

=MINA(B2:B4) = 0 (TRUE is treated as 1, FALSE as 0, resulting in 0 as the minimum)

Video Tutorial

Choosing the Right Function

MIN is efficient if you’re confident that your data contains only numbers. However, MINA ensures all entries are considered for datasets with a mix of data types, including text or logical values, providing a more comprehensive minimum value.

Related Tutorials