How to use the Excel QUARTILE function

Summary

The Excel QUARTILE function returns the quartile (each of four equal groups) for a given set of data. QUARTILE can return minimum value, first quartile, second quartile, third quartile, and max value.

Purpose

Get the quartile in a data set

Return value

Value for requested quartile

Syntax

=QUARTILE (array, quart)

Arguments

array - A reference containing data to analyze.
quart - The quartile value to return.

Version

Excel 2003

Usage notes

Use the QUARTILE function to get the quartile for a given set of data. QUARTILE takes two arguments, the array containing numeric data to analyze, and quart, indicating which quartile value to return. The QUARTILE function accepts 5 values for the quart argument, as shown in the table below.

Quart	Return value
0	Min value
1	First quartile – 25th percentile
2	Median value – 50th percentile
3	Third quartile – 75th percentile
4	Max value

Related functions

Excel MIN Function

The Excel MIN function returns the smallest numeric value in the data provided. The MIN function ignores empty cells, the logical values TRUE and FALSE, and text values.

Excel MAX Function

The Excel MAX function returns the largest numeric value in the data provided. MAX ignores empty cells, the logical values TRUE and FALSE, and text values.