STDEV.P function
STDEV.P measures how spread out a set of numbers is when those numbers are the entire population: every employee, every shift, every student in the class. It divides by the count of values rather than one less, so it comes out slightly smaller than STDEV on the same data.
- Available in
- Excel 2010 and later
- Category
- Statistical functions
- Returns
- The population standard deviation.
- Google Sheets
- Also available in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=STDEV.P(number1, [number2], ...)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
number1 | Required | The first number, cell or range in the population. |
number2 | Optional | More numbers, cells or ranges, up to 255 in total. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2 | =STDEV.P(B2:B9) | 10.23 | The whole class took the test, so this is a population |
| F3 | =STDEV(B2:B9) | 10.94 | The sample version is slightly larger on the same scores |
| F4 | =STDEV.P(B2:B9)/AVERAGE(B2:B9) | 12.9% | Spread as a share of the average (coefficient of variation) |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Student | Score | Check | Result | ||
| Ana | 88 | Population spread | 10.23 | ||
| Raj | 72 | Sample spread | 10.94 | ||
| Lee | 95 | Spread vs average | 12.9% | ||
| Kim | 64 | ||||
| Mo | 81 | ||||
| Ivy | 77 | ||||
| Sam | 90 | ||||
| Tia | 69 |
Practice STDEV.P
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Output spread per line
G2, return the population standard deviation of Line 1's output. Fill down to G4.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Using STDEV.P on a sample | If the data is a sample of a bigger group, STDEV.P understates the spread. Use STDEV.S (or STDEV) instead. |
| #NAME? in an old file | STDEV.P arrived in Excel 2010. In Excel 2007 and earlier, use STDEVP, which gives the same result. |
Tips
- If you're unsure whether you have a sample or a population, ask whether you could collect more values of the same kind. If yes, it's a sample.
Questions
What is the difference between STDEV.P and STDEV.S?
STDEV.P divides by n and describes a complete population. STDEV.S divides by n-1 and estimates the spread of a larger group from a sample.
Is STDEV.P the same as STDEVP?
Yes. STDEVP is the older name; both return the same value.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.