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MODE Function (LibreOffice Calc)

Math Beginner LibreOffice Calc Introduction not established

The MODE function in LibreOffice Calc returns the most frequently occurring value in a dataset. This guide explains syntax, examples, multi-mode behavior, errors, and best practices.

Verification status: Consult the documentation, examples and any stated test scope below. How formula examples are checked

Availability and version history

  • Introduced: Documented by LibreOffice 26.8.1.1; original introduction not established.
  • Availability: Supported in LibreOffice 26.8.1.1, verified against its function registry. This identifies a supported release, not a final working version.
  • Scope: Desktop Calc, using the English function name. Availability in other spreadsheet applications is separate.
  • Checked: 2026-10-14 — function reference; versioned support. Documentation/source check; not a new native test. Existing example-specific test claims below retain their stated scope.
The **MODE** function returns the most frequently occurring value in a dataset. It is one of the core statistical functions in LibreOffice Calc, useful for analyzing distributions, detecting common values, and identifying patterns in data.

What the MODE Function Does

  • Returns the most frequent value in a dataset
  • Works with numbers, ranges, and mixed arguments
  • Ignores empty cells automatically
  • Returns the first mode if multiple modes exist
  • Works across sheets
  • Useful for frequency and distribution analysis

MODE is ideal for identifying the most common value in a dataset.

Syntax

MODE(number1; number2; ...)
LibreOffice Calc uses semicolons (;) to separate arguments.
MODE ignores text unless it represents a valid number.

Basic Examples

Mode of a range

=MODE(A1:A10)

Mode of multiple ranges

=MODE(A1:A10; C1:C10)

Mode of specific values

=MODE(5; 12; 19; 12)

Result: 12

Mixed values and references

=MODE(A1:A10; 25; C5)

Multi‑Mode Behavior

If multiple values occur with the same highest frequency, MODE returns the first one it encounters.

Example dataset:

2, 3, 3, 5, 5

Both 3 and 5 occur twice.
MODE returns:

=MODE(A1:A5)

Result: 3

To extract all modes, use an array formula:

=IF(FREQUENCY(A1:A10; A1:A10)=MAX(FREQUENCY(A1:A10; A1:A10)); A1:A10)

(Advanced technique.)

Advanced Examples

Mode across sheets

=MODE(Sheet1.A1:A10; Sheet2.A1:A10)

Mode ignoring errors (using AGGREGATE)

=AGGREGATE(13; 2; A1:A10)

Mode of visible cells only (filtered data)

=AGGREGATE(13; 1; A1:A10)

Mode with conditions (indirect)

LibreOffice has no MODEIF, but you can simulate it:

=MODE(IF(A1:A10="North"; B1:B10))

(Confirm with Ctrl+Shift+Enter in older Calc versions.)

Mode of top 10 values

=MODE(LARGE(A1:A100; ROW(1:10)))

Mode excluding zeros

=MODE(IF(A1:A100<>0; A1:A100))

Mode of text-like numbers

=MODE(VALUE(A1:A10))

Common Errors and Fixes

MODE returns Err:502 (Invalid argument)

Occurs when:

  • Non-numeric text is included
  • A range reference is malformed
  • No numeric values exist in the dataset

MODE returns Err:511 (Missing variable)

Occurs when:

  • No values match the criteria in an array formula
  • The dataset is empty

MODE returns wrong result with filtered data

MODE does not ignore hidden rows.
Use:

=AGGREGATE(13; 1; A1:A10)

MODE returns the wrong mode in multi-mode datasets

This is expected—MODE returns the first mode only.

Best Practices

  • Use MODE to identify the most common value in a dataset
  • Use AGGREGATE for visibility‑aware or error‑tolerant mode calculations
  • Use array formulas for conditional or multi-mode extraction
  • Clean imported data before analysis
  • Use named ranges for cleaner formulas
MODE is especially useful in quality control, surveys, and frequency analysis—anywhere you need to know the most common value.