Understanding the DMIN Formula

The DMIN function in Excel finds the minimum value in a database column among records that match specified criteria. It's a database query tool for filtered minimums—like identifying the lowest price for a particular product category or the earliest date in a transaction set.

DMIN(database, "Price", criteria_range) returns the lowest value in the Price column from records that meet conditions defined in the criteria range. It takes database, field, and criteria arguments, applying criteria-based filtering before finding the minimum—perfect for identifying bargains, efficiency leaders, or baseline metrics within specific segments.

Why Use DMIN?

DMIN enables filtered minimum finding—think best value analysis or threshold detection. Its ability to apply multiple criteria simultaneously allows for nuanced filtering, supporting complex data analysis to identify minimum values in precisely defined subsets of your data.

Example with Sample Data

DMIN finds bottom values: $12.99 lowest electronic item price, 1 day minimum delivery for Premium shipping. The criteria range defines conditions that must be met for records to be considered in the minimum calculation. It's a selective minimum finder.