The Excel VAR.S function estimates the variance of a population from a sample — the sum of squared deviations divided by n−1.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number1 | Required | The first value or range in the sample. |
number2, ... | Optional | Up to 254 additional values or ranges. |
How to use it
VAR.S is the everyday variance: use it when your numbers are a sample from a larger population. It divides by n−1 (Bessel's correction) so the estimate isn't biased low.
For the same data VAR.S is always a little larger than the population VAR.P, because dividing by the smaller n−1 inflates the result. Its square root is the sample standard deviation STDEV.S.
Which one? If you have every data point (the whole population), use VAR.P. If your data is a sample standing in for something bigger, use VAR.S. VAR.S replaces the legacy VAR.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a VAR.S example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
When should I use VAR.S?
Why is VAR.S larger than VAR.P for the same data?
n−1 while VAR.P divides by the larger n. A smaller denominator yields a larger value, which corrects the tendency of a sample to underestimate true spread.Does VAR.S handle text and logical values?
How is VAR.S different from the old VAR?
VAR still works and lives in the Compatibility category.Master functions like this in one day
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