MAXIFS in WPS Spreadsheet: Find the Largest Value Meeting Conditions
Select the maximum from qualifying records, combine conditions and keep summary references stable when copying formulas.
Verification status: See the evidence and test scope described in this guide. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: =MAXIFS(C2:C6,A2:A6,"North") returns the largest value in C among rows whose A value is North. For the dataset below, the independent expected result is 150. Additional criteria restrict the eligible rows further; they do not return separate maxima.
Exact syntax and argument roles
=MAXIFS(max_range,criteria_range1,criteria1,[criteria_range2,criteria2],...)
The first three arguments are required. max_range is the numeric range being compared; criteria_range1 is tested against criteria1. Further range/criterion pairs are optional. No implicit criterion or default threshold is documented. WPS describes up to 126 additional pairs; this is the lesson’s stated limit rather than a test of a current installation.
Numbers, expressions and text can specify criteria. Use quotes around literal text and comparison expressions; a cell reference can supply a value. Every criteria range must match the value range’s size and shape, and corresponding positions should describe the same record.
Example: largest North amount
| Row | A: Region | B: Status | C: Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Region | Status | Amount |
| 2 | North | Open | 120 |
| 3 | South | Open | 70 |
| 4 | North | Closed | 80 |
| 5 | North | Open | 150 |
| 6 | South | Closed | 200 |
Enter =MAXIFS(C2:C6,A2:A6,"North") in E2. Independent expected result: 150, comparing 120, 80 and 150. The overall largest amount, 200, is excluded because it belongs to South.
Enter =MAXIFS(C2:C6,A2:A6,"North",B2:B6,"Closed") in E3. Independent expectation: 80. Both criteria must be met by the same row. This formula does not mean North OR Closed.
Advanced example: an editable upper limit
Put North in G2, Open in H2 and 140 in I2. In J2 enter:
=MAXIFS($C$2:$C$6,$A$2:$A$6,G2,$B$2:$B$6,H2,$C$2:$C$6,"<="&I2)
Independent expected result: 120. North/Open rows contain 120 and 150, but only 120 meets the upper limit. Change I2 to 160 and the independent expectation becomes 150. This is useful when the largest eligible amount must also stay within a specified threshold.
The dollar signs fix the dataset while the criteria references remain relative. If copied to J3, G3, H3 and I3 can specify another summary. The WPS walkthrough likewise uses absolute source references to keep the selected ranges fixed. The criterion "<=I2" is not equivalent to "<="&I2: the latter incorporates the numeric value from I2.
Troubleshooting and limits
WPS documents #VALUE! if the value range and criteria ranges differ in size or shape. Check starting rows as well as endpoints. C2:C6 and A3:A7 have equal sizes but are misaligned records; a size check alone cannot detect this data error.
The examples use positive numeric values and at least one qualifying row. No-match return values, blank handling, text-number conversion, wildcard escaping and errors inside ranges are not established by these controls. If the result is zero or otherwise surprising, inspect the selected rows before treating it as an actual maximum. Avoid hiding errors behind IF until you know their cause.
MAXIFS returns a value, not the record’s label or location. Ties can mean several rows share the result. Keep identifiers alongside the data if the next step is to investigate or report the qualifying record. Use MAX when no criteria are needed, or SUMIFS when the question is the total of matching amounts. Neither is a replacement for conditional maximum selection.
Availability, version history and evidence
The official WPS MAXIFS lesson was published 2019-06-24 and labels its applicable edition WPS Office for Windows Personal. The lesson was checked on October 19, 2026. This establishes a documented-by date, not the release in which the function first appeared. No numeric build, last supported version or retirement date is established. Mac, Linux, web, mobile and global-English edition parity are unverified.
Original expected results here are independent calculations or explicitly labelled test expectations, not native WPS execution. No WPS screenshot or installed-build test is claimed. Formula separators and displayed decimal precision can depend on the target setup; verify the exact function name in that installation before distributing a workbook.