VBA Abs Function

Abs Description

Returns the absolute value of a number.

Simple Abs Examples

Sub Abs_Example()
    MsgBox Abs(-12.5)
End Sub

This code will return 12.5

Abs Syntax

In the VBA Editor, you can type  “Abs(” to see the syntax for the Abs Function:

The Abs function contains an argument:

Number: A numeric value.

Examples of Excel VBA Abs Function

you can reference a cell containing a date:

Sub Abs_Example1()
    Dim cell As Range
    
    For Each cell In Range("A2:A4")
        cell.Offset(0, 1) = Abs(cell.Value)
    Next cell
End Sub

The result will be as following.(please see B2:B4)

The following 2 examples both will return 12.

MsgBox Abs(-12)

MsgBox Abs(12)

To find a number closest to 2 when a number array (1.5, 3.1, 2.1, 2.2, 1.8) is given, you can use the following code.

Sub Abs_Example2()
    Dim Numbers
    Dim item
    Dim closestValue As Double
    Dim diff As Double
    Dim minDiff As Double
    minDiff = 100
    
    Numbers = Array(1.5, 3.1, 2.1, 2.2, 1.8)
        
    For Each item In Numbers
        diff = Abs(item - 2)
        If diff < minDiff Then
            minDiff = diff
            closestValue = item
        End If
    Next item

    MsgBox "The closest value: " & closestValue
End Sub

The result will be 2.1 as following.