JavaScript Number.MAX_VALUE Property

Beginner
5 min read
Updated: Nov 2026
3 examples
Property
Decorative image with the word MAXVALUE

Definition

Number.MAX_VALUE is the largest positive finite Number JavaScript can represent — about 1.8e+308. Anything larger becomes Infinity. It is a static property, not a method.

Read the notes below before you rely on this property. Prefer feature detection when support is limited.

Syntax

Use Number.MAX_VALUE. Start with this line.

JavaScript
Number.MAX_VALUE
CallWhat it does
Number.MAX_VALUEPrimary signature.

Built into JavaScript. Read Number.MAX_VALUE on the Number constructor — no import required.

Library declarations
JavaScript
Number.MAX_VALUE

Parameters

ParameterDescription
Overflow checkOptional. Guard products before they become Infinity

Return Value

Return ValueDescription
*The current value of Number.MAX_VALUE.

JavaScript Examples

Example 1 — Read Number.MAX_VALUE

Print the largest finite Number and confirm it is finite.

JavaScript
console.log(Number.MAX_VALUE);
console.log(Number.isFinite(Number.MAX_VALUE));
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Static access. Read Number.MAX_VALUE on the constructor — there is no (5).MAX_VALUE.
  2. Huge but finite. The printed value is about 1.8e+308.
  3. Still a Number. Number.isFinite returns true — this is not Infinity yet.
  4. Prefer the name. Use the constant instead of hard-coding the literal.

Example 2 — Overflow to Infinity

Multiply past the ceiling and lose the real magnitude.

JavaScript
console.log(Number.MAX_VALUE * 1.1);   // Infinity
console.log(-Number.MAX_VALUE * 1.1);  // -Infinity
console.log(Number.isFinite(Number.MAX_VALUE * 1.1)); // false
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Past the ceiling. MAX_VALUE * 1.1 cannot stay finite → Infinity.
  2. Negative side. The same idea for -MAX_VALUE * 1.1 → -Infinity.
  3. Detect it. Number.isFinite returns false for both infinities.
  4. Magnitude is gone. Once overflowed, you cannot recover the original size.

Example 3 — MAX_VALUE vs MAX_SAFE_INTEGER

Huge floats and exact integers are different limits.

JavaScript
console.log(Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER);
console.log(Number.MAX_VALUE > Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER); // true
console.log(Number.isSafeInteger(Number.MAX_VALUE));     // false
Try It Yourself

How It Works

  1. Safe integer ceiling. MAX_SAFE_INTEGER is 253 − 1 (~9e15).
  2. Much smaller. MAX_VALUE is vastly larger than that integer limit.
  3. Not a safe int. Number.isSafeInteger(Number.MAX_VALUE) is false.
  4. Pick the right tool. Need exact ints? Use safe integers (or BigInt). Need magnitude? Use MAX_VALUE.
Compatibility

Browser & Runtime Support

Number.MAX_VALUE is part of core JavaScript and is Baseline Widely available in modern browsers and Node.js.

✓ Baseline · Widely available

Number.MAX_VALUE

Supported in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Node.js for decades. Safe for every modern JavaScript environment.

99% Modern browser support
Google Chrome Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Mozilla Firefox Supported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Apple Safari Supported · macOS & iOS
Full support
Microsoft Edge Supported · Chromium
Full support
Internet Explorer No native support · Use a polyfill
Polyfill
Opera Supported · Modern versions
Full support
Samsung Internet Supported · Android
Full support
Bun Supported · JavaScript runtime
Supported
Deno Supported · JavaScript runtime
Supported
Node.js Supported · Server runtime
Supported
Android WebView Supported · Modern WebView
Full support
Number.MAX_VALUE Excellent

Bottom line: Use Number.MAX_VALUE freely — no polyfill needed. Prefer the named constant over hard-coding 1.7976931348623157e+308.

Frequently Asked Questions

Number.MAX_VALUE is the largest positive finite Number JavaScript can represent — about 1.7976931348623157e+308. Values larger than this become Infinity.
Yes. Read it on Number itself: Number.MAX_VALUE. There is no (5).MAX_VALUE on number instances, and it is not a method.
The result becomes Infinity (or -Infinity for large negatives). The original magnitude is lost. Guard multiplications before they overflow if you need a finite result.
MAX_VALUE is the largest magnitude float (~1.8e+308). MAX_SAFE_INTEGER is the largest integer that is still exact (2^53 - 1). Huge floats above MAX_SAFE_INTEGER are not precise integers.
No. -Number.MAX_VALUE is the most negative finite Number. Number.MIN_VALUE is the smallest positive Number (closest to zero), about 5e-324.
It is Baseline Widely available and supported in every modern browser and Node.js.

Next: MIN_VALUE

Learn the smallest positive Number JavaScript can represent before underflow toward 0.

MIN_VALUE tutorial →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P
Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

  • Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
  • Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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