QUARTILE.INC function

Returns the quartile of a dataset, letting you find the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, or maximum value.

=QUARTILE.INC(array, quart)

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How to get a better answer
  • Name your columns by letter and by header: "column F (Net Value)" beats "the amount column".
  • State every condition, including the negatives — "not cancelled" changes the formula's shape.
  • Say where the data starts if it is not row 1, and whether it will grow.
  • Check the settings above match your spreadsheet: the wrong argument separator is a syntax error on your machine.

Arguments

How QUARTILE.INC reads its arguments
arrayrequiredquartrequiredQUARTILE.INC →
ArgumentRequiredDescription
arrayRequiredA range or array of numeric values. Non-numeric values return #VALUE!. Must contain at least one number.
quartRequiredAn integer from 0 to 4: 0 (minimum), 1 (25th percentile), 2 (median), 3 (75th percentile), 4 (maximum). Fractional or out-of-range values return #NUM!.

Returns

A numeric value representing the requested quartile position (0–4) of the array, with interpolation when the position falls between values.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Find the minimum maintenance cost

VehicleOdometerService DateCostGarage
Truck A450002024-01-15250Downtown
Truck B620002024-01-22380Uptown
Car C280002024-02-01150Downtown
Van D780002024-02-10520Westside
Car E350002024-02-18200Downtown
Truck F890002024-03-05650Uptown
Car G220002024-03-12120Downtown
Van H710002024-03-20480Westside
Truck I510002024-04-01320Uptown
Car J310002024-04-10180Downtown
=QUARTILE.INC(D2:D11, 0)

Result: 120

When quart is 0, QUARTILE.INC always returns the minimum value from the array. The lowest maintenance cost in this fleet was $120 (Car G). This is equivalent to using the MIN function.

2. Find the median maintenance cost

VehicleOdometerService DateCostGarage
Truck A450002024-01-15250Downtown
Truck B620002024-01-22380Uptown
Car C280002024-02-01150Downtown
Van D780002024-02-10520Westside
Car E350002024-02-18200Downtown
Truck F890002024-03-05650Uptown
Car G220002024-03-12120Downtown
Van H710002024-03-20480Westside
Truck I510002024-04-01320Uptown
Car J310002024-04-10180Downtown
=QUARTILE.INC(D2:D11, 2)

Result: 285

Quart 2 returns the median (50th percentile). With 10 costs in sorted order, the median position falls between the 5th value ($250) and 6th value ($320), so QUARTILE.INC interpolates: $250 + 0.5 × ($320 − $250) = $285.

3. Find the 75th percentile maintenance cost (third quartile)

VehicleOdometerService DateCostGarage
Truck A450002024-01-15250Downtown
Truck B620002024-01-22380Uptown
Car C280002024-02-01150Downtown
Van D780002024-02-10520Westside
Car E350002024-02-18200Downtown
Truck F890002024-03-05650Uptown
Car G220002024-03-12120Downtown
Van H710002024-03-20480Westside
Truck I510002024-04-01320Uptown
Car J310002024-04-10180Downtown
=QUARTILE.INC(D2:D11, 3)

Result: 490

Quart 3 finds the 75th percentile, showing that three-quarters of your maintenance costs fall below this threshold. Here, 75% of services cost $490 or less, making this a useful benchmark for budgeting high-end service expenses.

Common errors

Which QUARTILE.INC error are you seeing?
QUARTILE.INC returned an error#NUM!
Use only integer values 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 for the quart parameter. If you need a non-integer percentile, use PERCENTILE or PERCENTILE.INC instead.
#VALUE!
Remove or exclude text values from the range, or ensure all cells contain numeric data. If your cost column includes formatting like '$250', convert it to a plain number 250.
#REF!
Verify that the range D2:D11 still exists and is accessible. Re-enter the formula with the correct range, or use the name box to confirm the reference is live.
ErrorWhy it happensHow to fix it
#NUM!The quart argument is outside the allowed range of 0–4, or is not an integer (e.g., 2.5 or 5).Use only integer values 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 for the quart parameter. If you need a non-integer percentile, use PERCENTILE or PERCENTILE.INC instead.
#VALUE!The array contains non-numeric values such as text strings, dates formatted as text, or empty cells mixed with numbers. QUARTILE.INC cannot calculate a quartile on non-numeric data.Remove or exclude text values from the range, or ensure all cells contain numeric data. If your cost column includes formatting like '$250', convert it to a plain number 250.
#REF!The array argument references a range that has been deleted, moved, or is otherwise invalid (e.g., a closed workbook or a sheet that no longer exists).Verify that the range D2:D11 still exists and is accessible. Re-enter the formula with the correct range, or use the name box to confirm the reference is live.

Tips and when to use something else

  • QUARTILE.INC uses the inclusive method (population quartiles). If you're working with a sample and need sample quartiles, use QUARTILE.EXC instead—the results will differ slightly, especially for small datasets.
  • Reach for MEDIAN instead if you only need the middle value (equivalent to quart=2); it may be clearer in a formula.
  • Use QUARTILE.INC with MIN and MAX (quart=0 and quart=4) to summarize the full range of your data quickly, or with quart=1 and quart=3 to understand where the middle 50% of values cluster.
  • For finding individual data points by rank rather than percentile position, use SMALL (for the kth smallest value) or LARGE (for the kth largest value) instead.

Related functions

MEDIANMEDIAN returns the middle value in a sorted list of numbers, or the average of the two middle values if the count is even.MINMIN finds and returns the smallest numeric value in a range or list, automatically excluding text and empty cells.MAXMAX returns the largest numeric value in a range, ignoring text and empty cells. Useful for finding peak inventory, highest prices, or latest dates.LARGELARGE returns the k-th largest value in an array, where k=1 is the maximum, k=2 is the second-largest, and so on.SMALLSMALL returns the k-th smallest value from an array, where k=1 gives the minimum and higher k values give progressively larger results.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between QUARTILE.INC and QUARTILE.EXC?
Both functions divide data into quarters, but they use different calculation methods. QUARTILE.INC treats your data as an entire population and uses the inclusive method, which is the Excel default. QUARTILE.EXC treats your data as a sample and excludes the endpoints when calculating. For most business datasets, QUARTILE.INC is the right choice; both give nearly identical results on large datasets but may differ for small ones (fewer than 20 values).
Can QUARTILE.INC work with text values, dates, or mixed data?
No, QUARTILE.INC requires numeric values only and will return #VALUE! if the array contains text, dates stored as text, or blanks. You may need to filter to numeric columns only, convert text to numbers, or use a different approach like COUNTIF if you're trying to analyze categorical data.
How does QUARTILE.INC handle datasets with an even number of values?
QUARTILE.INC interpolates between values when the quartile position falls between two data points. With 10 values, for example, the median position is 5.5, so it averages the 5th and 6th sorted values. This produces a more precise quartile estimate than rounding up or down.
What does each quart value (0–4) tell me about my data?
Quart 0 gives the minimum value (useful for finding the cheapest service). Quart 1 (25th percentile) shows where the lowest quarter ends. Quart 2 (median) is the center. Quart 3 (75th percentile) shows where the upper quarter begins. Quart 4 is the maximum (most expensive). Together, they paint a picture of how your costs are distributed: a tight cluster means most services are similar, while a wide spread means they vary greatly.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17