FINV Function

Excel Functions › Compatibility

All versions (legacy) Compatibility

The Excel FINV function returns the inverse of the right-tailed F distribution — the F value for a given right-tail probability. It is the legacy name of F.INV.RT, introduced in Excel 2010.


Quick answer:
=FINV(0.01,6,4) critical F value ≈ 15.2

Syntax

=FINV(probability, deg_freedom1, deg_freedom2)
ArgumentDescription
probabilityRequiredA right-tail probability associated with the F distribution (between 0 and 1).
deg_freedom1RequiredThe numerator degrees of freedom (a positive integer).
deg_freedom2RequiredThe denominator degrees of freedom (a positive integer).

How to use it

FINV is the reverse of FDIST: give it a right-tail probability and the two degrees of freedom and it returns the F value (the critical value) that leaves that much area in the right tail.

=FINV(0.01,6,4) // critical F ≈ 15.2
=FINV(0.05,3,12) // ≈ 3.49

This is the function that produces the critical values in an F table for an F-test or ANOVA. Because it works with the right tail, the modern replacement is F.INV.RT — not the left-tailed F.INV.

Use F.INV.RT instead: =F.INV.RT(0.01,6,4) in Excel 2010+ returns the same critical value. Watch the naming: F.INV (no .RT) inverts the left tail.

Try it: interactive demo

Live demo

Pick a FINV example to see the formula and its result.

Result:

Practice workbook

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Frequently asked questions

What is the modern replacement for FINV?
F.INV.RT, added in Excel 2010 — the inverse of the right-tailed F distribution. =F.INV.RT(0.01,6,4) equals =FINV(0.01,6,4).
What does FINV calculate?
The F critical value for a given right-tail probability and pair of degrees of freedom — the value beyond which that proportion of the F distribution lies.
Is FINV the inverse of FDIST?
Yes. FDIST maps an F value to a right-tail probability; FINV maps a right-tail probability back to an F value, for the same degrees of freedom.
Why the right-tailed version?
F-tests reject in the right tail, so the critical value is taken from the right tail. Use F.INV.RT in modern workbooks; F.INV would return the left-tail value.

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Related functions: F.INV.RT · FDIST · FTEST · CHIINV · BETAINV