The STDEV.S function
Estimates the standard deviation of a sample, which is how far the values typically sit from their average. Text and empty cells in a range are ignored.
Syntax
STDEV.S(number1, [number2], ...)- number1
- The first number or range in the sample.
- number2, ... (optional)
- More numbers or ranges, up to 255 in all.
Examples
D1=STDEV.S(B2:B6)
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day | Sales | 23.02172887 | |
| 2 | Mon | 120 | ||
| 3 | Tue | 95 | ||
| 4 | Wed | 140 | ||
| 5 | Thu | 110 | ||
| 6 | Fri | 80 |
D1=STDEV.S(B2:B6)/AVERAGE(B2:B6)
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day | Sales | 0.211208522 | |
| 2 | Mon | 120 | ||
| 3 | Tue | 95 | ||
| 4 | Wed | 140 | ||
| 5 | Thu | 110 | ||
| 6 | Fri | 80 |
B1=STDEV.S(2,4,4,4,5,5,7,9)
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.138089935 |
Questions
Should I use STDEV.S or STDEV.P?
Use STDEV.S when your data is a sample from something bigger, such as 50 survey answers or a few weeks of sales. Use STDEV.P when the data is the whole population, every value there is. STDEV.S divides by one less than the count, so it is a little larger.
Is STDEV.S the same as STDEV?
Yes. STDEV is the older name and gives the same result. Excel keeps it for older workbooks.