Returning the MODE of a Range

Summary: The MODE function is used to determine the most frequently recurring value in a range. This tip explains how to use the function in your worksheet. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003.)

Excel provides the MODE function to help you determine the most frequently recurring value in a range. For instance, let's say you have a table that contains sales orders. One of the columns indicates the number of items ordered in each order. Over time, you may have accumulated quite a bit of data in the table. If you wanted to know the most common number of items ordered, you could use the MODE function.

Suppose your items ordered column is F, and you have 1,200 orders detailed in rows 2 through 1,201. If want to know the most common number of items ordered, you can use the following:

=MODE(F2:F1201)

The value returned represents the most commonly recurring value in the range. Thus, if 520 of your customers ordered 3 items, and the next most common was 314 customers ordering 4 items, then MODE would return the number 3.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2365) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Tame Your Data! ExcelTips: Filters and Filtering provides all the details necessary to let you manage large sets of data with confidence and ease. Its information-packed pages demonstrate how to use the two types of filters provided by Excel: AutoFilters and advanced filters.

Check out ExcelTips: Filters and Filtering today!

Helpful Links

Newest Tips

Subscribe

RSS Feeds

Returning the MODE of a Range