Database
DMIN Function in Excel
Returns the minimum value from database entries that match specified criteria.
Syntax
- =DMIN(database, field, criteria)
Arguments
- database (required): Range including headers
- field (required): Column to find min (name or number)
- criteria (required): Range with criteria headers and values
Examples
- =DMIN(A1:D10, "Price", F1:F2) - Minimum price matching criteria - Result: Min value
D-functions vs DMIN
- Database functions use a criteria range with headers matching your list.
- For simple AND criteria [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/) may be easier to audit.
- Compare [SUMIF vs SUMIFS](/compare/sumif-vs-sumifs/) for reporting patterns.
Common errors
- Field must contain numbers
Use cases
- Find lowest values
- Database analysis
- Conditional minimum
Frequently asked questions
- When should I use DMIN instead of MINIFS? Use DMIN when you need OR conditions or dynamic criteria that change. DMIN's separate criteria range makes it easy to modify conditions without editing the formula. Use MINIFS for simple, fixed AND conditions.
- How do I find minimum excluding zeros? Add a criteria column with '>0' to exclude zeros. Or use: =DMIN(database, field, criteria) where criteria includes the condition <>0 for the numeric field. This finds the smallest positive value.
- Can DMIN work with dates? Yes, DMIN works with dates since Excel stores them as numbers. It returns the earliest (minimum) date matching your criteria. Format the result cell as a date to display properly.
Editorial review
- Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.