totn Excel Functions

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

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

Description

The Microsoft Excel SMALL function returns the nth smallest value from a set of values.

The SMALL 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 SMALL function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the SMALL function in Microsoft Excel is:

SMALL( array, nth_position )

Parameters or Arguments

array
A range or array from which you want to return the nth smallest value.
nth_position
The position from the smallest to return.

Returns

The SMALL function returns a numeric value.
If nth_position is larger than the number of values in array, the SMALL function will return the #NUM! error.
If array is empty, the SMALL 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 SMALL function examples and explore how to use the SMALL function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel

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

=SMALL(A1:A5, 1)
Result: -2.3

=SMALL(A1:A5, 2)
Result: 4

=SMALL(A1:A5, 3)
Result: 5.7

=SMALL(A1:A5, 4)
Result: 8

=SMALL(A1:A5, 5)
Result: 32

=SMALL({6, 23, 5, 2.3}, 2)
Result: 5

More Examples

Here are examples that show how to find values in unordered lists in Excel: