How to calculate variance in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=VAR.S(B2:B7)Use =VAR.S(B2:B7) for a sample, or =VAR.P(B2:B7) for a whole population.
- Result on the example
- 86.67 in
E1 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in E1. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
Variance is the average squared distance from the mean (78.33 here). VAR.S adds the squared differences (433.3) and divides by n − 1 = 5, giving 86.67. It is in squared units, which is why the standard deviation, its square root, is easier to read.
=VAR.S(B2:B7)Result86.66666667
B2:B76 rows × 1 col: 72, 85, 90, 64, …A range: 6 cells in one column.
VAR.S(B2:B7)86.66666667VAR: Sample variance (same as VAR.S).- number1
B2:B76 rows × 1 col: 72, 85, 90, 64, …
- number1
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =VAR.S(B2:B7). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns 86.67.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =STDEV.S(B2:B7)^2 | 86.67 | Variance is the standard deviation squared. |
| =VAR.P(B2:B7) | 72.22Different result | For a complete population. Divides by n: 72.22. |
Common mistakes
- In budgeting, "variance" means actual minus budget, which is a subtraction, not VAR.S. See the first FAQ.
- VAR (without .S) is the older name for VAR.S and gives the same result.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Calculate variance
E1, calculate the sample variance of the scores in B2:B7.Questions
How do I calculate a budget variance?
Subtract: =actual-budget, and divide by the budget for a percentage variance.
How do I get the standard deviation from the variance?
Take the square root: =SQRT(VAR.S(B2:B7)).
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.