How to Use Max Function MS Access

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to find the maximum value in an MS Access query.

Quick summary

The Max function in MS Access lets you retrieve the highest value from a field using a Query Design. This tutorial walks you through creating an aggregate query with the Max option applied via the Totals row in the query grid.

Steps

Open your database in MS Access.
Go to the Create tab in the ribbon.
Click on Query Design to start a new query.
Select the table containing the data you want to analyze by clicking the Add Selected Tables button.
Add the desired field to the query grid.
Select the Totals option on the ribbon to enable aggregate functions.
Go to the Total row, click the drop-down arrow, and select Max from the menu.
Run the query by clicking the Run button to return the maximum value.
Your query now displays the maximum value from the selected field using the Max function.

📌 Why this matters

The Max function in Microsoft Access is essential for database users who need to instantly identify the highest value in any field — such as the largest order total, highest score, or most recent date — without writing complex code. By using the built-in Query Design interface and the Totals row, Access users can apply aggregate functions like Max in just a few clicks, making data analysis faster and more accessible. This capability is critical for business analysts, administrators, and developers who rely on MS Access to summarize and report on large datasets efficiently.

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