---
title: "Use the MIN Function to Return the Smallest Numeric Value"
slug: "min-function-numeric"
description: "Learn to use the MIN function in Pigment to return the smallest numeric value across multiple inputs."
updated: 2025-05-30T09:40:39Z
published: 2025-08-22T10:57:28Z
---
> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.pigment.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# MIN function (Numeric)
## Description
Returns the smallest value among all given values. Data type can be numeric or date.
## Syntax
`MIN(Value1 [, Value2] [, Value3] …)`
## Arguments
| Argument | Type | Dimensions | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Value1* (required) | Integer, Number, or Date | Any Dimensions | First value to compare. |
| *Value2* (optional) | Integer, Number, or Date | No Dimension or Dimensions of argument *Value1* | Other value to compare. |
| *Value3* (optional) | Integer, Number, or Date | No Dimension or Dimensions of argument *Value1* | Other value to compare. |
| This functions accepts any number of arguments of the same data type as the Value1 |
## Returns
| Type | Dimensions |
| --- | --- |
| Integer, Number, or Date | Dimensions of argument *Value1* |
## Examples
| Formula | Result | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `MIN(5, 1.1, 3)` | 1.1 | 1.1 is the smallest value. |
| `MIN(-14.7, 34)` | -14.7 | -14.7 is the smallest value. |
| `MIN('Expenses', 'Threshold')` | | Returns the smallest values between the Metric ‘Expenses’ and another Metric ‘Threshold’. |
| `Max('Start Date',DATE(2023,1,1))` | | Returns the earliest date between the Metric `Start Date` and January 1st 2023, thus replacing any dates after January 1st 2023 with January 1st 2023 |
## See also
Excel: [MIN](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/min-function-61635d12-920f-4ce2-a70f-96f202dcc152)
Related articles: [MAX](/v1/docs/max-function-numeric)
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