The Excel PERCENTILE.EXC function returns the value at a given percentile using the exclusive method, where k must fall strictly between 0 and 1 — the 0% and 100% endpoints are excluded.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
array | Required | The range or array of numeric data. |
k | Required | The percentile, strictly greater than 0 and less than 1. k must lie between 1/(n+1) and n/(n+1), or the function returns an error. |
How to use it
PERCENTILE.EXC uses the exclusive ranking method. It computes the rank position as k×(n+1), which keeps the result strictly inside the data — you cannot ask for the 0th or 100th percentile.
For four points at k=0.25 the position is 0.25×5 = 1.25 — a quarter of the way from the 1st to the 2nd value, giving 1.25. Compare this to PERCENTILE.INC, which returns 1.75 for the same inputs.
Watch the valid range for k. With n data points, k must be between 1/(n+1) and n/(n+1). Asking for a percentile outside that window — or any k of 0 or 1 — returns the #NUM! error.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a PERCENTILE.EXC example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What does the .EXC in PERCENTILE.EXC mean?
k must be strictly greater than 0 and less than 1, so the 0% and 100% endpoints are excluded from the result.Why does PERCENTILE.EXC return a #NUM! error?
k is outside the valid window. With n points, k must be between 1/(n+1) and n/(n+1). For 4 points that is 0.2 to 0.8, so k=0.1 would error.When should I use PERCENTILE.EXC instead of PERCENTILE.INC?
Does PERCENTILE.EXC have a legacy equivalent?
PERCENTILE matches PERCENTILE.INC, not EXC. There is no older exclusive function.Master functions like this in one day
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