Make All Numbers in a List Positive in Excel

Take a list of numbers and make them all positive, regardless of whether the list contains a mixed set of positive and negative numbers, only negative numbers, or only positive numbers.

In other words, this method can be applied to an entire list, without knowing that every number in that list is negative, and still get only positive values returned.

This tutorial follows another tutorial (Make Negative Numbers Positive in Excel and Vice Versa) on this topic, but it is important to single out this method since it is the best way to get positive values from a list of potentially negative values.

Steps to Make All Numbers Positive in Excel

To do this, we will use the ABS() function.  This is the absolute value function and it returns a number without its sign, as in without a negative sign.

1. Next to the data that you want to make positive, type =ABS(cell reference) like this:
   
2. Once you enter that function simply copy it down by selecting cell B1 and double-clicking the bottom right corner of the cell.
   

It's as easy as that!

Now, all numbers in the list are positive, regardless of the size or type of number.

Make the New Numbers Actual Numbers

This just takes the ABS function's output in column B and turns it into actual numbers instead of the ABS() function.

Select the desired cells > Ctrl + C > Alt + E + S + V and then Enter.

Notes

This is better than using the Copy > Paste Special method to make numbers positive because that method will turn all positive numbers from the list into negative numbers at the same time as converting the negative ones to positive.  As such, the Absolute Value method mentioned here is the preferred method for ensuring that a list of numbers contains only positive numbers.

Download the accompanying Excel workbook to see this in action.