DMIN Function in Excel: Smallest Value With a Criteria Table

DMIN Function in Excel: Smallest Value With a Criteria Table featured illustration

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⏱ 2 min readUpdated 28 September 2026

DatabaseLevel: ExpertAvailable in: Excel 2007+

In this article
  1. Syntax
  2. Examples
  3. Example 1
  4. DMIN in practice
  5. Where you will use it
  6. Worked example
  7. Mistakes people make
  8. Related functions
  9. Continue learning

DMIN is DMAX’s twin: the smallest value among matching rows.

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Syntax

=DMIN(database, field, criteria)
Argument What it means
criteria A small criteria range: header row copied from the data, conditions in the rows below. Same row = AND, separate rows = OR.

Examples

Example 1

=DMIN(A1:F500, "Unit Price", H1:H2)

Lowest price paid to a supplier.

DMIN in practice

Where you will use it

  • Lowest value with criteria
  • Cheapest quote
  • Database reports

Worked example

Database H1:J6 (Region, Customer, Sales: North 12000, South 8000, North 15000, West 22000, South 9000) with three criteria blocks.

CaseCriteriaFormulaResult
1Region = North=IFERROR(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A2,CritA,CritB,CritC)),"error: "&ERROR.TYPE(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A2,CritA,CritB,CritC))))12000
2Sales > 10000=IFERROR(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A3,CritA,CritB,CritC)),"error: "&ERROR.TYPE(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A3,CritA,CritB,CritC))))12000
3North OR South=IFERROR(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A4,CritA,CritB,CritC)),"error: "&ERROR.TYPE(DMIN(DB,"Sales",CHOOSE(A4,CritA,CritB,CritC))))8000

Results calculated in Excel.

Mistakes people make

MistakeWhat to do instead
Typed zeros countBlanks are ignored, zeros are not
Modern alternativeMINIFS

MINIFS · DMAX

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📎 Practice files for this article

  • 📗
    Practice workbook: Database (D…) functions6 tasks on realistic sales data — type your formula, the Check column turns green when it is right. Answers sheet included.
    ⬇ XLSX · 33 KB

Free to use for learning. Files with macros (.bas) are plain text — import them with Alt+F11 → File → Import File, and always test on a copy.

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