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---
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title: "MAX (Transact-SQL)"
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description: "MAX (Transact-SQL)"
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description: MAX returns the maximum of all values of the specified expression in a group.
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author: markingmyname
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ms.author: maghan
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ms.date: "08/23/2017"
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ms.reviewer: randolphwest
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ms.date: 11/18/2025
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ms.service: sql
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ms.subservice: t-sql
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ms.topic: reference
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- "values [SQL Server], maximum"
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- "maximum values [SQL Server]"
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dev_langs:
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- "TSQL"
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monikerRange: ">= aps-pdw-2016 || = azuresqldb-current || = azure-sqldw-latest || >= sql-server-2016 || >= sql-server-linux-2017 || = azuresqldb-mi-current||=fabric"
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- TSQL
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monikerRange: ">=aps-pdw-2016 || =azuresqldb-current || =azure-sqldw-latest || >=sql-server-2016 || >=sql-server-linux-2017 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =fabric"
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---
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# MAX (Transact-SQL)
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[!INCLUDE [sql-asdb-asdbmi-asa-pdw-fabricse-fabricdw](../../includes/applies-to-version/sql-asdb-asdbmi-asa-pdw-fabricse-fabricdw.md)]
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Returns the maximum of all values of the specified expression in a group. May be followed by the [OVER clause](../../t-sql/queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md)
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If you want the maximum of all values of multiple expressions inline then look at [GREATEST](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md)
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:::image type="icon" source="../../includes/media/topic-link-icon.svg" border="false"::: [Transact-SQL syntax conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)
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## Syntax
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```syntaxsql
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-- Aggregation Function Syntax
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MAX( [ ALL | DISTINCT ] expression )
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-- Analytic Function Syntax
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MAX ([ ALL ] expression) OVER ( <partition_by_clause> [ <order_by_clause> ] )
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```
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Returns the maximum of all values of the specified expression in a group. Can be followed by the [OVER](../queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md) clause.
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> [!NOTE]
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> To get the maximum of all values of multiple expressions inline, see [Logical functions - GREATEST](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md).
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:::image type="icon" source="../../includes/media/topic-link-icon.svg" border="false"::: [Transact-SQL syntax conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)
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## Syntax
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Aggregation function syntax:
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```syntaxsql
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MAX ( [ ALL | DISTINCT ] expression )
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```
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Analytic function syntax:
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```syntaxsql
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MAX ( [ ALL ] expression) OVER ( [ <partition_by_clause> ] [ <order_by_clause> ] )
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```
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## Arguments
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**ALL**
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Applies the aggregate function to all values. ALL is the default.
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DISTINCT
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Specifies that each unique value is considered. DISTINCT is not meaningful with MAX and is available for ISO compatibility only.
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*expression*
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Is a constant, column name, or function, and any combination of arithmetic, bitwise, and string operators. MAX can be used with **numeric**, **character**, **uniqueidentifier**, and **datetime** columns, but not with **bit** columns. Aggregate functions and subqueries are not permitted.
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For more information, see [Expressions &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/language-elements/expressions-transact-sql.md).
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OVER **(** _partition\_by\_clause_ [ _order\_by\_clause_ ] **)**
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*partition_by_clause* divides the result set produced by the FROM clause into partitions to which the function is applied. If not specified, the function treats all rows of the query result set as a single group. *order_by_clause* determines the logical order in which the operation is performed. *_partition\_by\_clause_* is required. For more information, see [OVER Clause &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md).
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## Return Types
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Returns a value same as *expression*.
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## Remarks
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MAX ignores any null values.
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MAX returns NULL when there is no row to select.
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For character columns, MAX finds the highest value in the collating sequence.
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MAX is a deterministic function when used without the OVER and ORDER BY clauses. It is nondeterministic when specified with the OVER and ORDER BY clauses. For more information, see [Deterministic and Nondeterministic Functions](../../relational-databases/user-defined-functions/deterministic-and-nondeterministic-functions.md).
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Operates on a set of rows. To obtain the MAX value for a set of values inline, then look at [GREATEST](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md)
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## Examples
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### A. Simple example
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The following example returns the highest (maximum) tax rate in the [!INCLUDE[ssSampleDBnormal](../../includes/sssampledbnormal-md.md)] database.
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```sql
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SELECT MAX(TaxRate)
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FROM Sales.SalesTaxRate;
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GO
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```
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[!INCLUDE[ssResult](../../includes/ssresult-md.md)]
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```
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-------------------
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Warning, null value eliminated from aggregate.
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(1 row(s) affected)
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```
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### B. Using the OVER clause
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The following example uses the MIN, MAX, AVG, and COUNT functions with the OVER clause to provide aggregated values for each department in the `HumanResources.Department` table in the [!INCLUDE[ssSampleDBnormal](../../includes/sssampledbnormal-md.md)] database.
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```sql
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SELECT DISTINCT Name
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, MIN(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS MinSalary
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, MAX(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS MaxSalary
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, AVG(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS AvgSalary
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,COUNT(edh.BusinessEntityID) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS EmployeesPerDept
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FROM HumanResources.EmployeePayHistory AS eph
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JOIN HumanResources.EmployeeDepartmentHistory AS edh
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ON eph.BusinessEntityID = edh.BusinessEntityID
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JOIN HumanResources.Department AS d
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ON d.DepartmentID = edh.DepartmentID
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WHERE edh.EndDate IS NULL
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ORDER BY Name;
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```
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[!INCLUDE[ssResult](../../includes/ssresult-md.md)]
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```
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Name MinSalary MaxSalary AvgSalary EmployeesPerDept
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----------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ----------------
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Document Control 10.25 17.7885 14.3884 5
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Engineering 32.6923 63.4615 40.1442 6
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Executive 39.06 125.50 68.3034 4
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Facilities and Maintenance 9.25 24.0385 13.0316 7
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Finance 13.4615 43.2692 23.935 10
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Human Resources 13.9423 27.1394 18.0248 6
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Information Services 27.4038 50.4808 34.1586 10
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Marketing 13.4615 37.50 18.4318 11
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Production 6.50 84.1346 13.5537 195
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Production Control 8.62 24.5192 16.7746 8
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Purchasing 9.86 30.00 18.0202 14
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Quality Assurance 10.5769 28.8462 15.4647 6
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Research and Development 40.8654 50.4808 43.6731 4
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Sales 23.0769 72.1154 29.9719 18
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Shipping and Receiving 9.00 19.2308 10.8718 6
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Tool Design 8.62 29.8462 23.5054 6
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(16 row(s) affected)
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```
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### C. Using MAX with character data
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The following example returns the database name that sorts as the last name alphabetically. The example uses `WHERE database_id < 5`, to consider only the system databases.
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```sql
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SELECT MAX(name) FROM sys.databases WHERE database_id < 5;
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#### ALL
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Applies the aggregate function to all values. `ALL` is the default.
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#### DISTINCT
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Specifies that each unique value is considered. `DISTINCT` isn't meaningful with `MAX`, and is available for ISO compatibility only.
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#### *expression*
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A constant, column name, or function, and any combination of arithmetic, bitwise, and string operators. `MAX` can be used with **numeric**, **char**, **nchar**, **varchar**, **nvarchar**, **uniqueidentifier**, or **datetime** columns, but not with **bit** columns. Aggregate functions and subqueries aren't permitted.
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For more information, see [Expressions](../language-elements/expressions-transact-sql.md).
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#### OVER ( [ *partition_by_clause* ] [ *order_by_clause* ] )
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*partition_by_clause* divides the result set produced by the `FROM` clause into partitions to which the function is applied. If not specified, the function treats all rows of the query result set as a single group.
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*order_by_clause* determines the logical order in which the operation is performed.
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For more information, see [SELECT - OVER clause](../queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md).
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## Return types
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Returns a value same as *expression*.
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## Remarks
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`MAX` ignores any null values.
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`MAX` returns `NULL` when there's no row to select.
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For character columns, `MAX` finds the highest value in the collating sequence.
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`MAX` is a deterministic function when used without the `OVER` and `ORDER BY` clauses. It's nondeterministic when specified with the `OVER` and `ORDER BY` clauses. For more information, see [Deterministic and nondeterministic functions](../../relational-databases/user-defined-functions/deterministic-and-nondeterministic-functions.md).
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`MAX` operates on a set of rows. To obtain the maximum value for a set of values inline, see [Logical functions - GREATEST](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md).
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## Examples
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[!INCLUDE [article-uses-adventureworks](../../includes/article-uses-adventureworks.md)]
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### A. Basic example
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The following example returns the highest (maximum) tax rate.
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```sql
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SELECT MAX(TaxRate)
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FROM Sales.SalesTaxRate;
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GO
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```
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[!INCLUDE [ssResult](../../includes/ssresult-md.md)]
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```output
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-------------------
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Warning, null value eliminated from aggregate.
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```
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The last system database is `tempdb`.
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## See Also
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[Aggregate Functions &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/functions/aggregate-functions-transact-sql.md)
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[GREATEST](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md)
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[OVER Clause &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md)
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### B. Use the OVER clause
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The following example uses the `MIN`, `MAX`, `AVG`, and `COUNT` functions with the `OVER` clause to provide aggregated values for each department in the `HumanResources.Department` table.
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```sql
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SELECT DISTINCT Name,
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MIN(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS MinSalary,
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MAX(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS MaxSalary,
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AVG(Rate) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS AvgSalary,
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COUNT(edh.BusinessEntityID) OVER (PARTITION BY edh.DepartmentID) AS EmployeesPerDept
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FROM HumanResources.EmployeePayHistory AS eph
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INNER JOIN HumanResources.EmployeeDepartmentHistory AS edh
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ON eph.BusinessEntityID = edh.BusinessEntityID
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INNER JOIN HumanResources.Department AS d
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ON d.DepartmentID = edh.DepartmentID
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WHERE edh.EndDate IS NULL
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ORDER BY Name;
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```
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[!INCLUDE [ssResult](../../includes/ssresult-md.md)]
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```output
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Name MinSalary MaxSalary AvgSalary EmployeesPerDept
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----------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ----------------
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Document Control 10.25 17.7885 14.3884 5
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Engineering 32.6923 63.4615 40.1442 6
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Executive 39.06 125.50 68.3034 4
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Facilities and Maintenance 9.25 24.0385 13.0316 7
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Finance 13.4615 43.2692 23.935 10
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Human Resources 13.9423 27.1394 18.0248 6
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Information Services 27.4038 50.4808 34.1586 10
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Marketing 13.4615 37.50 18.4318 11
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Production 6.50 84.1346 13.5537 195
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Production Control 8.62 24.5192 16.7746 8
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Purchasing 9.86 30.00 18.0202 14
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Quality Assurance 10.5769 28.8462 15.4647 6
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Research and Development 40.8654 50.4808 43.6731 4
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Sales 23.0769 72.1154 29.9719 18
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Shipping and Receiving 9.00 19.2308 10.8718 6
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Tool Design 8.62 29.8462 23.5054 6
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```
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### C. Use MAX with character data
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The following example returns the database name that sorts using the database name alphabetically. The example uses `WHERE database_id < 5`, to select the system databases.
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```sql
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SELECT MAX(name)
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FROM sys.databases
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WHERE database_id < 5;
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```
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The last system database is `tempdb`.
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## Related content
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- [Aggregate Functions (Transact-SQL)](aggregate-functions-transact-sql.md)
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- [Logical functions - GREATEST (Transact-SQL)](logical-functions-greatest-transact-sql.md)
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- [SELECT - OVER clause (Transact-SQL)](../queries/select-over-clause-transact-sql.md)

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