totn Excel Functions

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

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

Description

The Microsoft Excel STDEV function returns the standard deviation of a population based on a sample of numbers.

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

Syntax

The syntax for the STDEV function in Microsoft Excel is:

STDEV( number1, [number2, ... number_n] )

Parameters or Arguments

number1
A numeric value that can be a number, named range, array, or reference to a number.
number2, ... number_n
Optional. They are numeric values that can be numbers, named ranges, arrays, or references to numbers. There can be up to 30 values entered.

Returns

The STDEV function returns a numeric value.

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 STDEV function examples and explore how to use the STDEV function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel

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

=STDEV(A2, A3)
Result: 2.333452378

=STDEV(A3, A5, 45)
Result: 22.36157418

=STDEV(A2:A6)
Result: 85.9740833