How to Max Value On Given Weekday in Excel

Why This Task Matters in Excel

In every organization, data rarely arrives in a perfectly tidy, pre-summarized state. Sales figures are recorded by date, website traffic is measured every minute, and equipment sensors log readings around the clock. Managers, analysts, and operational staff often need to focus on specific slices of that continuous timeline. A classic requirement is:

“Show me the highest value that occurred on Monday,” or “Which Tuesday had the peak website traffic?”

Knowing how to pull the maximum value for a specific weekday unlocks immediate insights:

1. Sales & Retail – Stores frequently compare promotional performance by weekday. If Monday’s peak revenue outpaces other days, that signals effective marketing on that day.
2. Manufacturing & Maintenance – Equipment might overheat most on Fridays because of staffing patterns. Identifying the highest temperature specifically on Fridays triggers preventive action.
3. Finance – Traders and analysts look at the highest closing price on a given weekday to test seasonality.
4. Customer Support – Contact centers track the busiest weekday. Finding the maximum call volume on Wednesdays guides staffing schedules.

Excel is ideally suited for this problem because it couples efficient date functions with powerful conditional aggregation tools such as MAXIFS, the AGGREGATE function, dynamic arrays, and pivot tables. Without mastering this task, analysts may waste hours manually filtering or risk incorrect results by eyeballing the data. Automating weekday-specific maximums:

• Cuts analysis time from minutes to seconds
• Guarantees repeatable, error-free results
• Integrates smoothly with dashboards and downstream formulas

Moreover, learning to conditionally maximize by weekday teaches core Excel concepts—date serial numbers, logical filtering, and array operations—that transfer directly to countless other workflows such as average by month, sum by quarter, or minimum by category.

Best Excel Approach

For users on Excel 2019, Microsoft 365, or Excel for the web, MAXIFS is the fastest, most transparent solution. MAXIFS lets you state the range you want to return the maximum from and then one or more criteria ranges with corresponding criteria. Internally, Excel builds a filtered list and outputs the highest remaining value—no array-entry quirks, no helper columns, and excellent performance on large tables.

Syntax (simplified):

=MAXIFS(max_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, [criteria_range2], [criteria2], …)

For our task, max_range is the column that contains the values we want the maximum of—sales, temperature, visits, etc. criteria_range1 is the column containing the dates, and criteria1 is a condition that restricts that column to the weekday we care about.

Because MAXIFS does not understand weekday names directly, we wrap the criteria range in the WEEKDAY function (or TEXT) and compare it with the weekday number or name.

Recommended formula:

=MAXIFS([B2:B1000], WEEKDAY([A2:A1000], 2), 1)

• [A2:A1000] → Date column
• [B2:B1000] → Values to maximize
• WEEKDAY(…, 2) converts each date to Monday = 1, Tuesday = 2, …, Sunday = 7
• The final argument 1 tells MAXIFS we only want dates where the weekday number equals 1 (Monday). Change the final number for other weekdays.

Alternative (when MAXIFS is unavailable, such as Excel 2016 and earlier):

=AGGREGATE(14, 6, 1/((WEEKDAY([A2:A1000], 2)=1))*[B2:B1000], 1)

or an old-school array formula entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter:

=MAX(IF(WEEKDAY([A2:A1000],2)=1, [B2:B1000]))

These approaches use array math to filter values before taking the maximum. They are slightly harder to read and maintain but fully compatible with older versions.

Parameters and Inputs

To ensure your formulas perform reliably, understand the data types and constraints of each input:

• Date Column [A2:A1000] – Must contain genuine Excel dates, not text that merely looks like dates. A quick test is to change the cell format to General; a real date converts to an integer such as 45212.
• Value Column [B2:B1000] – Typically numeric (currency, percentages, decimals). MAXIFS ignores text automatically. Blank cells are ignored but zeros are considered legitimate values.
• Weekday Number – Use integers 1-7 when WEEKDAY’s second argument is 2 (Monday = 1). Alternatively, supply a cell reference holding that integer to make the formula dynamic.
• Optional Additional Criteria – MAXIFS can accept more pairs, for example product code, region, or status.
• Data Preparation – Strip leading/trailing spaces in text columns (TRIM), confirm no accidental text in numeric columns (VALUE), and remove subtotals or headers within the data region.
• Validation – Consider Data Validation lists for weekday names or numbers to prevent entry mistakes.
• Edge Cases – If no rows match the criteria, MAXIFS returns zero. Wrap in IFERROR or set a default such as “N/A” to handle empty results gracefully.

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1: Basic Scenario – Highest Monday Sales

Imagine a small coffee shop tracking daily revenue. The owner wants to know the best Monday ever so she can replicate that success.

Sample Data

All dates reside in [A2:A100], revenue in [B2:B100].

Steps

1. In cell D1, type “Monday Top”.
2. In D2, enter the formula:

=MAXIFS([B2:B100], WEEKDAY([A2:A100],2), 1)

3. Press Enter. Excel instantly returns 620 (the largest Monday revenue).

Why it works: WEEKDAY converts each date to 1-7. MAXIFS internally discards revenue rows where the weekday number is not 1, then finds the maximum of what’s left.

Variations

• Change the final argument to 5 for Friday.
• Reference a cell: =MAXIFS([B2:B100], WEEKDAY([A2:A100],2), $F$1) where F1 contains the weekday number selected by a drop-down list.

Troubleshooting

• If you see zero but know there are Mondays, confirm the dates are genuine and that WEEKDAY’s second argument equals 2.
• If the shop closes on Sundays and the owner enters “Closed” instead of blanks, those text entries will be ignored automatically, so no error arises.

Example 2: Real-World Application – Manufacturing Temperature Peaks

A factory logs sensor readings every hour. Management suspects the machinery overheats most on Thursdays and wants to know the single highest reading on any Thursday to set alert thresholds.

Data Setup

• Column A ([A2:A8762]) – Timestamp (e.g., 01-Feb-23 08:00).
• Column B ([B2:B8762]) – Temperature in °C.

Because timestamps include time, we still rely on WEEKDAY ignoring the time portion.

Walkthrough

1. Insert a helper header cell G1: “Thursday Peak”.
2. Formula in G2:

=MAXIFS([B2:B8762], WEEKDAY([A2:A8762],2), 4)

Here, 4 represents Thursday.
3. Press Enter. Suppose the result is 93.6 °C.

Extended Analysis

• To understand when that peak occurred, use another formula to fetch the corresponding timestamp:

  =INDEX([A2:A8762], MATCH(G2, [B2:B8762], 0))
  

  This returns the exact date-time stamp of the highest Thursday reading, enabling targeted root-cause analysis.

Integration

• Create a pivot chart that plots daily max by weekday, and overlay the Thursday peak as a highlighted point.
• If the dataset updates every hour, wrap the formulas inside dynamic named ranges (e.g., Table objects) so the peak recalculates automatically without editing ranges.

Performance

MAXIFS handles [8760] rows × 2 columns effortlessly on modern hardware, recalculating in milliseconds. However, if you scale to hundreds of thousands of rows, consider converting the data to an Excel Table and referencing structured names, which optimizes calculation.

Example 3: Advanced Technique – Multi-Criteria Maximum Using Legacy Excel

Suppose you are stuck on Excel 2013 inside a corporate environment. You must find the highest weekly revenue for the “East” region on Saturdays, with no MAXIFS available.

Dataset

• [A2:A5000] – Date
• [B2:B5000] – Region (East, West, Central)
• [C2:C5000] – Revenue

Array Formula Approach

1. Select cell H2 and enter:

=MAX(IF((WEEKDAY([A2:A5000],2)=6)*( [B2:B5000]="East" ), [C2:C5000]))

2. Confirm with Ctrl+Shift+Enter (Excel will display curly braces in the formula bar indicating it is an array formula).

Explanation

• (WEEKDAY(...)=6) returns an array of TRUE/FALSE for Saturdays.
• [B2:B5000]="East" returns another TRUE/FALSE array.
• Multiplying the two coerces TRUE to 1, FALSE to 0, resulting in 1 where both conditions are met.
• That array multiplies by the revenue to keep only the qualifying numbers and replace others with zero.
• MAX finds the largest of those.

Error Handling

If no Saturday sales exist for East, the formula returns 0. Wrap it:

=IFERROR( MAX(IF(...)), "No data" )

Optimization Tips

Array formulas recalculate for every cell they reside in. To minimize overhead, place this heavy formula once in a summary sheet, not repeated across thousands of cells. Converting the dataset into a pivot table with a Weekend filter and Max aggregation can also offload the calculation.

Tips and Best Practices

1. Use Tables – Convert your dataset to an Excel Table (Ctrl+T). Structured references like Table1[Revenue] automatically expand when new rows are added.
2. Cell-Based Criteria – Store the weekday number or name in a separate cell and reference it, making what-if analysis effortless.
3. Helper Columns – If you frequently analyze by weekday, add a calculated column =TEXT([@Date], "ddd") in the Table. This speeds up formulas and clarifies intent.
4. Named Ranges – A named formula such as WeekdayNum:=WEEKDAY(Table1[Date],2) keeps main formulas short and readable.
5. Conditional Formatting – Highlight the row that contains the maximum on the chosen weekday using a formula rule to improve dashboard storytelling.
6. Documentation – Comment complex array formulas (Alt+M, N) so future maintainers understand the weekday parameter and criteria logic.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Dates Stored as Text – If WEEKDAY returns the same number for every row or gives an error, the dates are likely text. Use VALUE or DATEVALUE to correct.
2. Wrong WEEKDAY Return Type – Omitting the second argument in WEEKDAY defaults Sunday = 1. If you assume Monday = 1 you’ll filter the wrong day. Always specify 2.
3. Hard-Coding Criteria Everywhere – Typing 1 for Monday in multiple formulas makes updates tedious and error-prone. Reference a single cell instead.
4. Array Formula Entry Errors – In legacy Excel, forgetting Ctrl+Shift+Enter leaves the formula as plain text, returning a single incorrect value. Check for curly braces in the formula bar.
5. Ignoring No-Match Results – A blank dataset for the chosen weekday returns zero, which might be misinterpreted as an actual value. Wrap MAXIFS in IF to display “No data”.

Alternative Methods

When to choose

• Use MAXIFS when available—it is fastest to write, audit, and maintain.
• Fall back on AGGREGATE if you dislike array formulas but need a single-cell answer in Excel 2010-2016.
• For giant datasets (hundreds of thousands of rows), use Power Query to group by weekday and pick Max, then load a compact summary back into Excel.
• Pivot tables excel when the user prefers a GUI and interactive slicing.

FAQ

When should I use this approach?

Use a weekday-specific maximum whenever you need the single highest metric filtered by the day of week—sales optimization, capacity planning, or seasonal trend validation. If you also need average or minimum by weekday, the same pattern applies with AVERAGEIFS or MINIFS.

Can this work across multiple sheets?

Yes. Qualify range references with sheet names:

=MAXIFS(Sheet2!B:B, WEEKDAY(Sheet2!A:A,2), 1)

Alternatively, consolidate data in one Table or use 3-D references in legacy Excel.

What are the limitations?

MAXIFS returns zero if no match exists, which can be misleading. It also cannot accept array transformations in the criteria_range argument in very old builds (pre-2020) of Excel 365. Array formulas may slow workbooks when copied thousands of times.

How do I handle errors?

Wrap the formula:

=IFERROR( MAXIFS(...), "No matching data" )

For array formulas, use IFERROR outside the Ctrl+Shift+Enter expression or integrate error handling within AGGREGATE, which natively skips errors with option 6.

Does this work in older Excel versions?

Array formulas and AGGREGATE are compatible back to Excel 2007 and 2010 respectively. MAXIFS is available starting Excel 2019 and Microsoft 365. Office 2016 perpetual users do not have MAXIFS.

What about performance with large datasets?

MAXIFS is highly optimized and rarely an issue under one million rows. For multi-million-row CSVs, import with Power Query, perform the Group By weekday operation, and output a slim summary to the workbook. Avoid volatile functions around these formulas to keep recalculation time low.

Conclusion

Mastering weekday-specific maximums lets you slice time-series data with surgical precision. Whether pinpointing Monday’s record-breaking sales or Thursday’s critical temperature spike, you can now answer executives instantly and accurately. The same logic extends to averages, counts, and other metrics, deepening your analytics toolkit. Continue sharpening your skills with related lessons—dynamic date ranges, rolling averages, and dashboard visualization—to transform raw timestamps into decisive action.