# PERCENTILE.EXC function in Excel

> PERCENTILE.EXC returns the value at a given percentile using the exclusive method, which leaves out the very bottom and top of the range: k must sit strictly between 0 and 1, and close to the ends of a short list it returns #NUM!.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/percentile-exc · Updated October 28, 2026 · Formulas and results on this page were run by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on October 30, 2026

## Quick answer

- **What it does:** PERCENTILE.EXC returns the value at a given percentile using the exclusive method, which leaves out the very bottom and top of the range: k must sit strictly between 0 and 1, and close to the ends of a short list it returns #NUM!.
- **Syntax:** `=PERCENTILE.EXC(array, k)`
- **Most common use:** `=PERCENTILE.EXC(B2:B9,0.25)` returns 12.75 (The 25th percentile, exclusive method: 12.75)
- **Available in:** Excel 2010 and later
- **Category:** [Statistical functions](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/category/stats)
- **Returns:** A number; #NUM! when k is 0, 1, or too close to either end for the size of the list.
- **Google Sheets:** Google Sheets has PERCENTILE.EXC too.

## What it does

PERCENTILE.EXC returns the value at a given percentile using the exclusive method, which leaves out the very bottom and top of the range: k must sit strictly between 0 and 1, and close to the ends of a short list it returns #NUM!. Some statistics courses and tools use this method, so reach for it when your numbers need to match theirs.

## Syntax

`=PERCENTILE.EXC(array, k)`

| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| `array` | Required | The numbers. Text and blanks are skipped. |
| `k` | Required | The percentile as a decimal strictly between 0 and 1. |

## Examples

Each result was calculated by running the formula on the sample sheet.

| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | `=PERCENTILE.EXC(B2:B9,0.25)` | 12.75 | The 25th percentile, exclusive method: 12.75 |
| D3 | `=PERCENTILE.INC(B2:B9,0.25)` | 14.25 | The inclusive method gives 14.25 for the same data |
| D4 | `=PERCENTILE.EXC(B2:B9,0.05)` | #NUM! | #NUM!: 8 values are too few for the 5th percentile with this method |

### The sample sheet

Every formula above runs on this data:

|  | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ticket | Minutes |  | Result |
| 2 | T-101 | 12 |  | 12.75 |
| 3 | T-102 | 45 |  | 14.25 |
| 4 | T-103 | 8 |  | #NUM! |
| 5 | T-104 | 30 |  |  |
| 6 | T-105 | 22 |  |  |
| 7 | T-106 | 95 |  |  |
| 8 | T-107 | 15 |  |  |
| 9 | T-108 | 40 |  |  |

## Common mistakes

| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #NUM! | k is 0 or 1, or below 1/(n+1) or above n/(n+1) for a list of n values. Use PERCENTILE.INC, or more data. |
| Doesn't match PERCENTILE | PERCENTILE and PERCENTILE.INC use the inclusive method. The two methods give different values, most of all on short lists. |

## Tips

- With 9 values, the smallest k PERCENTILE.EXC accepts is 1/10 = 0.1, and the largest is 0.9.

## Related functions

- [PERCENTILE.INC](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/percentile-inc): PERCENTILE.INC returns the value below which a given share of the data falls: k = 0.9 gives the 90th percentile.
- [QUARTILE.EXC](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/quartile-exc): QUARTILE.EXC returns the first, second or third quartile using the exclusive method, which some statistics tools and textbooks use.
- [MEDIAN](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/median): MEDIAN returns the middle value once the numbers are sorted.

## Questions

### When should I use PERCENTILE.EXC?

When you need to match a textbook or tool that uses the exclusive method, such as type 6 in R. Otherwise PERCENTILE.INC is the usual choice.

### Why does PERCENTILE.EXC return #NUM!?

The list is too short for the k you asked for. With n values, k must be at least 1/(n+1) and at most n/(n+1).

## Practice

A graded PERCENTILE.EXC exercise ("Exclusive 20th percentile") is on [the PERCENTILE.EXC page](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/percentile-exc). It is checked instantly, then re-checked on changed data.

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