Minimum and Maximum Calculator

Enter your numbers to find the minimum (smallest value), maximum (largest value), and range (max minus min) of your dataset.

Quick Facts

Method
Minimum, maximum, and range (max − min)
Scans every value; the range is the simplest measure of spread.

Your Results

Calculated
Minimum
-
Smallest value
Maximum
-
Largest value
Range
-
Maximum − minimum
Count
-
How many values
Midrange
-
(min + max) / 2

Ready

Enter your numbers and press Calculate.

How to find the minimum, maximum, and range

The minimum is the smallest number in a dataset and the maximum is the largest. The range is the distance between them, defined as:

Range = Maximum − Minimum

To find them by hand, sort your numbers from lowest to highest. The first value in the sorted list is the minimum, the last value is the maximum, and subtracting the two gives the range. For example, with the dataset 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 the minimum is 4, the maximum is 42, and the range is 42 − 4 = 38. The midrange, the exact center between the two extremes, is (4 + 42) / 2 = 23.

Why the range matters

The range is the simplest measure of statistical spread, or dispersion. It tells you at a glance how far apart the extreme observations are. A small range means the values are clustered tightly; a large range means they are widely scattered. Because it uses only two numbers — the two endpoints — it is quick to compute and easy to explain, which makes it a common first look at any dataset before more detailed measures like variance or standard deviation are calculated.

Minimum and maximum in everyday data

  • Weather: daily high and low temperatures are literally the maximum and minimum readings over 24 hours, and the daily range is their difference.
  • Grades and test scores: the highest and lowest scores in a class, and the spread between them.
  • Prices: the 52-week high and low of a stock, or the cheapest and most expensive quote you received.
  • Quality control: the smallest and largest measurement in a batch, checked against tolerance limits.

The range compared with other spread measures

The range is easy but blunt. Because it depends only on the two most extreme values, a single unusually large or small number — an outlier — can inflate it dramatically while telling you nothing about the bulk of the data. The interquartile range (the spread of the middle 50% of values), the variance, and the standard deviation all use more of the data and are more robust when outliers are present. Use the range for a fast first impression, then reach for those measures when you need a fuller picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the range in statistics?
The range is the difference between the largest and smallest values in a dataset: range = maximum − minimum. It is the simplest measure of how spread out the data is. For the dataset 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, the range is 42 − 4 = 38.
Can the range be zero or negative?
The range can be zero — that happens when every value in the dataset is identical, so the minimum equals the maximum. The range can never be negative, because the maximum is always greater than or equal to the minimum, so max − min is always zero or positive.
What is the midrange?
The midrange is the average of the smallest and largest values: (minimum + maximum) / 2. It marks the exact center of the range. For 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 the midrange is (4 + 42) / 2 = 23. It is a quick estimate of the center but, like the range, it is sensitive to outliers because it ignores every value except the two extremes.
Do minimum and maximum change if the data has decimals or negatives?
No — the method is the same for any real numbers. The minimum is still the smallest value and the maximum the largest, whether the data contains decimals, negative numbers, or both. For −5, 0, 3.5, 12, the minimum is −5, the maximum is 12, and the range is 12 − (−5) = 17.

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