How to Calculate Quartiles in Excel

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A quartile is the name for a percentage of data in four parts, or quarters, which is especially helpful for marketing, sales, and teachers scoring tests. Do you have data entered into your Excel sheet and want to see the quartiles (like the top 25%)? This wikiHow will teach you how to calculate quartiles in Excel using a formula.

Quick Steps

  1. Select a cell where you want to display your quartile information.
  2. In the formula box enter =QUARTILE.INC( or =QUARTILE.EXC( .
  3. Enter the range of cells you want to calculate, i.e. A1:A20 .
  4. Add , n) where n is 1, 2, 3, or 4, the numbers correlating to quartiles.
  5. Press Enter to run the formula.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using "QUARTILE.INC"

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you're in Excel, you can go to File > Open or you can right-click the file in your file browser.
    • This method works for Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Excel for the web, Excel 2019-2007, Excel 2019-2011 for Mac, and Excel Starter 2010.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This can be anywhere on your spreadsheet.
    • For example, you can select cell E7 even if all your data is located in cells A2-A20.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-3.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    =QUARTILE.INC( . INC stands for "Inclusive," which will give you results that include 0+100.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-4.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can drag your cursor to select the entire range or you can select the first cell then press CTRL + SHIFT + Down arrow .
    • After you've selected the data set, you'll see it entered into your formula. It'll look something like "=QUARTILE.INC(A2:A20" . Don't add the closing parentheses because you'll need to add more information to the function.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ef\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-5.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The number after the data range can represent either Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4, so you can use any number 1-4 in the function instead of 1.
    • The function QUARTILE.INC(A2:A20,1) will show you the first quartile (or 25th percentile) of your data set. [1]
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The cell you have selected will display the quartile function result. You can repeat this process using the other quartile function to see the differences. [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using "QUARTILE.EXC

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you're in Excel, you can go to File > Open or you can right-click the file in your file browser.
    • This method works for Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Excel for the web, Excel 2019-2007, Excel 2019-2011 for Mac, and Excel Starter 2010.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ce\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This can be anywhere on your spreadsheet.
    • For example, you can select cell E7 even if all your data is located in cells A2-A20.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-9.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":349,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":552,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    =QUARTILE.EXC(. .EXC displays exclusive results, not showing you the highest and lowest ranges.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-10.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can drag your cursor to select the entire range or you can select the first cell then press CTRL + SHIFT + Down arrow .
    • After you've selected the data set, you'll see it entered into your formula. It'll look something like "=QUARTILE.EXC(A2:A20" . Don't add the closing parentheses because you'll need to add more information to the function.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0c\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-11.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The number after the data range can represent either Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4, so you can use any number 1-4 in the function instead of 1.
    • The function QUARTILE.EXC(A2:A20,1) will show you the position of the first quartile in your data set. [3]
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg\/aid11940588-v4-728px-Calculate-Quartiles-in-Excel-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The cell you have selected will display the quartile function result. You can repeat this process using the other quartile function to see the differences. [4]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quartile-inc-function-1bbacc80-5075-42f1-aed6-47d735c4819d
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/UseEZnBYHEY?t=192
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/quartile-exc-function-5a355b7a-840b-4a01-b0f1-f538c2864cad
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/UseEZnBYHEY?t=192

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your project in Excel.
      2. Select an empty cell where you want to display your quartile information.
      3. Enter "=QUARTILE.INC(" or "=QUARTILE.EXC(" .
      4. Select the cells containing your data.
      5. Enter ",1)" to finish the formula.
      6. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac).

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