Find Maximum Value in each Row – SQL Server

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Here’s a simple and efficient way to find the maximum value in each row using SQL Server UNPIVOT

DECLARE @t table (id int PRIMARY KEY, col1 int, col2 int, col3 int)

-- SAMPLE DATA
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 1, 45, 2, 14
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 2, 8, 1, 12
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 3, 21, 20, 8
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 4, 8, 5, 2
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 5, 23, 49, 7
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 6, 19, 7, 5
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 7, 7, 7, 2
INSERT INTO @t SELECT 8, 14, 17, 2

-- QUERY
SELECT id, MAX(col) AS maxValue
FROM
(
  SELECT id, col FROM @t
  UNPIVOT
  (col FOR ListofColumns IN (col1,col2,col3))
   AS unpivott) AS p
GROUP BY id 

OUTPUT

If you new to UNPIVOT, read Using PIVOT and UNPIVOT

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About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, ASP.NET Architecture MVP works as an Architect Consultant and provides consultancy on how to design and develop Web applications.

Suprotim is also the founder and primary contributor to DevCurry, DotNetCurry and SQLServerCurry. He has also written an EBook 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls.

Follow him on twitter @suprotimagarwal

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