Strip the sign from a number so it's always positive.
Copy this formula
=ABS(A2)ABS returns the magnitude of a number without its sign. It's useful for differences where direction doesn't matter, like the gap between forecast and actual.
=ABS(A2-B2)→30Absolute difference between two values.
=ABS(-15)→15A negative number becomes positive.
=SUMPRODUCT(ABS({5,-8,3}))→16Adds 5, -8 and 3 as if they were all positive.
Use SUMPRODUCT(ABS(range)) to total values ignoring their signs.
Use =ABS(A2). Positive numbers stay unchanged and negative numbers lose their minus sign.
Use =-ABS(A2). It returns a negative value whatever the original sign was.
No. $A$2 is an absolute reference, which stops the cell address from shifting when you copy a formula. ABS changes the sign of a number.
Need a formula for your own data?
Describe what you want in plain language and let ExcelGPT write, explain, and verify the formula — free to start, no plugin.