PERCENTILE function

Returns the k-th percentile of values in a range. You can use this function to establish a threshold of acceptance. For example, you can decide to examine candidates who score above the 90th percentile.

Important: This function has been replaced with one or more new functions that may provide improved accuracy and whose names better reflect their usage. Although this function is still available for backward compatibility, you should consider using the new functions from now on, because this function may not be available in future versions of Excel.

For more information about the new functions, see PERCENTILE.EXC function and PERCENTILE.INC function.

Syntax

PERCENTILE(array,k)

The PERCENTILE function syntax has the following arguments:

• Array     Required. The array or range of data that defines relative standing.

• K     Required. The percentile value in the range 0..1, inclusive.

Remarks

• If k is nonnumeric, PERCENTILE returns the #VALUE! error value.

• If k is < 0 or if k > 1, PERCENTILE returns the #NUM! error value.

• If k is not a multiple of 1/(n - 1), PERCENTILE interpolates to determine the value at the k-th percentile.

Example

Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.

Data
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Formula	Description	R esult
=PERCENTILE(A2:A5,0.3)	30th percentile of the list in the range A2:A5.	1.9