The Excel COMBINA function returns the number of combinations with repetition — how many ways you can choose items from a set when order does not matter but the same item may be picked more than once.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The total number of distinct items to choose from (n). |
number_chosen | Required | How many items are chosen (k). With repetition allowed, k may exceed n. |
How to use it
COMBINA is like COMBIN but allows the same item to be chosen repeatedly. Picking 3 scoops from 4 ice-cream flavors (you can repeat a flavor) is =COMBINA(4,3) = 20.
Mathematically COMBINA(n,k) = COMBIN(n + k - 1, k). Because repeats are allowed, the count is always at least as large as the equivalent COMBIN, and k is even permitted to exceed n.
COMBIN vs COMBINA: COMBIN forbids repeats (each item picked at most once); COMBINA allows them. For 3 scoops from 4 flavors, COMBINA(4,3) = 20 because you can take two or three scoops of the same flavor.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a COMBINA example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What does COMBINA calculate?
=COMBINA(4,3) = 20.How is COMBINA different from COMBIN?
Can number_chosen be larger than number?
Is there a formula linking COMBINA to COMBIN?
COMBINA(n,k) = COMBIN(n + k - 1, k). The two are directly related through this shift.Master functions like this in one day
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