The Excel PERCENTILE function returns the value at a given percentile of a dataset, interpolating between points. It is a legacy function; Microsoft replaced it in Excel 2010 with PERCENTILE.INC, which behaves identically.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
array | Required | The array or range of numeric data that defines the distribution. |
k | Required | The percentile, between 0 and 1 inclusive (e.g. 0.25 for the 25th percentile). |
How to use it
PERCENTILE finds the value below which a given fraction of the data falls, interpolating linearly between the two surrounding data points when the percentile lands between them. The range for k is inclusive of 0 and 1.
Because it includes the endpoints, k = 0 returns the minimum and k = 1 the maximum. This inclusive behaviour is exactly what the modern PERCENTILE.INC reproduces.
Use PERCENTILE.INC in Excel 2010 and later. PERCENTILE maps to PERCENTILE.INC (inclusive). If you need the exclusive variant (k strictly between 0 and 1), use PERCENTILE.EXC instead. PERCENTILE is kept only for backward compatibility.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a PERCENTILE example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Should I use PERCENTILE or PERCENTILE.INC?
PERCENTILE.INC in Excel 2010 or later — it gives the same inclusive result and is the supported function. PERCENTILE is kept only so older workbooks keep working.What is the difference between PERCENTILE.INC and PERCENTILE.EXC?
k from 0 to 1 inclusive, so 0 returns the minimum and 1 the maximum. EXC requires k strictly between 0 and 1 and uses a different interpolation, giving slightly different results.What range must k be in?
k must be between 0 and 1 inclusive. A value outside that range returns an error.How does PERCENTILE handle values between data points?
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