totn Excel Functions

MS Excel: How to use the PERCENTILE Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel PERCENTILE function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel PERCENTILE function returns the nth percentile from a set of values.

The PERCENTILE function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Statistical Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the PERCENTILE function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the PERCENTILE function in Microsoft Excel is:

PERCENTILE( array, nth_percentile )

Parameters or Arguments

array
A range or array from which you want to return the nth percentile.
nth_percentile
The percentile value. It can be a value between 0 and 1.

Returns

The PERCENTILE function returns a numeric value.
If nth_percentile is not a numeric value, the PERCENTILE function will return the #VALUE! error.
If nth_percentile is a value greater than 1 or less than 0, the PERCENTILE function will return the #NUM! error.

Applies To

  • Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

  • Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel PERCENTILE function examples and explore how to use the PERCENTILE function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following PERCENTILE examples would return:

=PERCENTILE(A2:A6, 0.5)
Result: 8.1

=PERCENTILE(A2:A6, 0.8)
Result: 48.4

=PERCENTILE({1,2,3,4}, 0.8)
Result: 3.4

=PERCENTILE({1,2,3,4}, 0.75)
Result: 3.25

=PERCENTILE({7,8,9,20}, 0.35)
Result: 8.05