Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=PERCENTILE.EXC(array,k)- array - Data values.
- k - A value between 0 and 1 that represents the k:th percentile.
Using the PERCENTILE.EXC function
The Excel PERCENTILE.EXC function calculates the "kth percentile" for a set of data. The kth percentile is a value below which k percent of values in the data set fall. A percentile calculated with .4 as k means 40% percent of values are less than or equal to the calculated result, a percentile calculated with k = .9 means 90% percent of values are less than or equal to the calculated result.
To use PERCENTILE.EXC, provide a range of values and a number between 0 and 1 for the "k" argument, which represents percent. For example:
=PERCENTILE.EXC(range,.4) // 40th percentile
=PERCENTILE.EXC(range,.9) // 90th percentile
You can also specify k as a percent using the % character:
=PERCENTILE.EXC(range,80%) // 80th percentile
In the example shown, the formula in G5 is:
=PERCENTILE.EXC(scores,E5)
where "scores" is the named range C5:C14.
PERCENTILE.INC vs. PERCENTILE.EXC
The reason the PERCENTILE.EXC function is exclusive is because the function excludes percentages from 0 to 1/(N+1) as well as N/(N+1) to 1, where N is the size of the input array. On the other hand, PERCENTILE.INC includes the full range from 0 to 1 as valid k values.
Effectively, PERCENTILE.EXC will always choose a value farther away from the mean of the data set, compared to PERCENTILE.INC. Note that both functions map to the full range of data.
Error Values
PERCENTILE.EXC will return the #NUM error if k is less than 1/(n+1) or greater than n/(n+1). In the example shown, where the array contains 10 values, the minimum value for k is 0.091 and the maximum is 0.909.
Note: Microsoft classifies PERCENTILE as a "compatibility function", now replaced by the PERCENTILE.INC function.
Notes
- k can be provided as a decimal (.5) or a percentage (50%)
- k must be between 0 and 1, or PERCENTILE.EXC will return the #NUM! error.
- PERCENTILE.EXC will return the #NUM error if k is less than 1/(n+1) or greater than n/(n+1).
- PERCENTILE.EXC will interpolate when k is not a multiple of 1/(n+1).
Related functions
PERCENTILE.INC Function
The Excel PERCENTILE.INC function calculates the "kth percentile" for a set of data where k is 0 to 1, inclusive. A percentile is a value below which a given percentage of values in a data set fall. You can use PERCENTILE.INC to determine the 90th percentile, the 80th percentile, etc....
SMALL Function
The Excel SMALL function returns a numeric value based on its position in a list when sorted by value in ascending order. In other words, SMALL can return the "nth smallest" value (1st smallest value, 2nd smallest value, 3rd smallest value, etc.) from a set of numeric data.
LARGE Function
The Excel LARGE function returns a numeric value based on its position in a list when sorted by value in descending order. In other words, LARGE can retrieve the "nth largest" value – 1st largest value, 2nd largest value, 3rd largest value, etc.
RANK Function
The Excel RANK function returns the rank of a numeric value when compared to a list of other numeric values. RANK can rank values from largest to smallest (i.e. top sales) as well as smallest to largest (i.e. fastest time).
