JLPT N1Written and spokenConfident

までもない・までもなくno need to go that far

There is no need to take a step, because the answer is already plain or the matter is too small. Taking it would be overdoing things.

彼かれの満まん面めんの笑えみを見みれば、試し験けんの結けっ果かを尋たずねるまでもない。

One look at his beaming smile is enough; there is no need to ask how the exam went.

詳くわしく説せつ明めいするまでもなく、この制せい度どの問もん題だい点てんは一ひと目めで分わかる。

Without any need for a detailed explanation, the problems with this system are obvious at a glance.

To end a sentence

Verb (dictionary form) + までもない

The verb stays in the dictionary form. The past goes on the end: 聞きくまでもなかった.

To carry on

Verb (dictionary form) + までもなく、…

Before it: A step you might take: 言いう, 聞きく, 確かく認にんする, 説せつ明めいする, 行いく. Often with わざわざ or 改あらためて.
Tone: Sure of itself. You are calling the matter obvious or small.
Where you'll meet it: Essays, opinion pieces, speeches, work emails. In conversation, 言いうまでもなく and short remarks: 聞きくまでもない, わざわざ行いくまでもない.
In everyday speech: People say わざわざ〜しなくてもいい.

In use

結けっ果かは数すう字じを見みれば明あきらかで、改あらためて計けい算さんするまでもない。

The result is clear from the figures, so there is no need to calculate it again.

The answer is already plain.

この程てい度どの傷きずなら、病びょう院いんへ行いくまでもない。

For a wound this minor, there is no need to go to the hospital.

The matter is small.

部ぶ長ちょうにわざわざ来きていただくまでもありません。私わたしが説せつ明めいしておきます。

There is no need to trouble you to come over. I will do the explaining.

Said to your department head: the matter is too small to trouble them with.

It isn't a plain "don't have to"

There has to be a reason the step would be too much. When you are simply let off doing something, までもない doesn't fit.

Not said: 明日あしたは休やすみだから、早はやく起おきるまでもない。

(Tomorrow is a day off, so I don't have to get up early.)

Here it's 早はやく起おきなくてもいい.

Close neighbours

言うまでもないN3

The same words with 言いう, and much the commonest: "needless to say". In conversation, mostly when the talk is serious.

言いうまでもなく、この計けい画かくには住じゅう民みんの理り解かいが欠かかせない。

It goes without saying that this plan requires the residents' understanding.

ことはないN3

Everyday, and said to a person: you tell them there's no need, usually to reassure them.

そんなに心しん配ぱいすることはないよ。

There's no need to worry so much.

には及ばないN1

A formal reply. Someone thanks you, offers or worries, and you tell them there is no need. It follows a noun too, where までもない takes only a verb.

お礼れいには及およびません。当とう然ぜんのことをしただけです。

There is no need to thank me. I only did what anyone would do.

ないまでもN1

The same words the other way around, and a different meaning: even if not this much, then at least that.

毎まい日にちとは言いわないまでも、週しゅうに一いち度どは運うん動どうしたほうがいい。

Even if not every day, you should exercise at least once a week.

Check yourself

1Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

（　　）、健けん康こうは何なにより大たい切せつだ。

Choose an answer to see why.

3"I didn't even need to ask."

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

It also comes before a noun, most often こと:

言いうまでもないことだが、締しめ切きりは必かならず守まもってほしい。

It goes without saying, but I want you to meet the deadline without fail.

More sentences

証しょう拠こは映えい像ぞうに残のこっており、事じ実じつ関かん係けいを改あらためて確かく認にんするまでもない。

The evidence is preserved on video, so there is no need to verify the facts again.

一ひと目め見みれば偽にせ物ものだと分わかるので、専せん門もん家かに鑑かん定ていを頼たのむまでもない。

It is obviously a fake at a glance, so there is no need to ask an expert to appraise it.

両りょう製せい品ひんの性せい能のう差さは仕し様よう表ひょうだけで明めい白はくで、実じっ際さいに試ためすまでもない。

The difference in performance between the two products is clear from the specifications alone, so there is no need to test them in practice.