Excel QUARTILE Function

Using the Excel QUARTILE Function


The Excel QUARTILE function returns the quartile of a given data set. A quartile is often used to divide populations into groups. For example, to find the top 20% of students in a class, the top 5% of runners in a state, etc.

QUARTILE is still available as a compatibility function. However, Microsoft recommends using either QUARTILE.EXC or QUARTILE.INC which may have improved accuracy.


=QUARTILE (array, quart)

Syntax Breakdown

Required. An array or range of cells consisting of numeric values for which you want to fine the quartile.

Required. Indicates which value to return. The function will truncate entries that are not an integer. The options for this argument are as follows:

Quart Value
0 Minimum value
1 First quartile - 25th percentile
2 Median value - 50th percentile
3 Third quartile - 75th percentile
4 Max value

Usage Notes

QUARTILE returns the quartile for a given set of data. The function can return the minimum value, first quartile, second quartile, third quartile, and max value.

MIN, MEDIAN, and MAX will return the same value as QUARTILE when quart is equal to 0 (zero), 2, and 4, respectively.

Error Values

1) #NUM! error if array is empty;

2) #NUM! error if quart < 0 or if quart > 4