Absolute Value Calculator
Strip the sign off a number to get its distance from zero.
Absolute value
8.4
|-8.4| = 8.4
-8.4 sits 8.4 units to the left of zero on the number line. Absolute value measures that distance, and distance is never negative, so the sign drops away.
How it works
The absolute value of a number, written with vertical bars like |−8.4|, is how far it sits from zero on the number line. Distance can't be negative, so the answer is always zero or positive.
In practice that means you just drop the minus sign: |−8.4| is 8.4, and |8.4| is also 8.4. A positive number is already its own distance from zero, so it stays put.
You can type a plain number or a short expression like 3 - 10, and the calculator evaluates it first, then takes the absolute value of the result. Everything updates as you type.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the absolute value never negative?
Because it measures a distance, and distances don't run backwards. Whether you're 8 steps left or 8 steps right of zero, you're still 8 steps away — so |−8| and |8| both come out as 8.
What is |0|?
It's 0. Zero sits exactly at the origin, so its distance from zero is nothing at all. It's the one value whose absolute value equals the number itself while being neither positive nor negative.
Can I put in an expression instead of a single number?
You can. Enter something like 3 - 10 and the calculator works out −7 first, then reports the absolute value 7. Stick to numbers, parentheses, and the basic + − × ÷ operators.