STDEV.P function

STDEV.P returns the population standard deviation of a dataset, measuring how spread out values are across the entire population.

=STDEV.P(number1, ...)

Generate a STDEV.P formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for STDEV.P where STDEV.P is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

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 STDEV.P reads its arguments
number1requiredSTDEV.P →
ArgumentRequiredDescription
number1RequiredRequired. A number or cell reference containing a numeric value; text and logical values are ignored.
...RepeatingOptional. Additional numbers or cell ranges to include in the standard deviation calculation; repeats up to 254 total arguments.

Returns

A number representing the population standard deviation.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Measure spending variability for utilities across four months

CategoryJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril
Utilities160145155162
Groceries620595610615
Gas210195208205
=STDEV.P(160,145,155,162)

Result: 6.58

The actual utility spending across four months is 160, 145, 155, and 162. The population standard deviation is 6.58, indicating moderate month-to-month fluctuation. Since these are all the months in the dataset, STDEV.P treats them as the entire population.

2. Compare budget variance consistency within utilities

CategoryJanuary VarFebruary VarMarch VarApril Var
Utilities-105-5-12
=STDEV.P(-10,5,-5,-12)

Result: 6.58

The variances (actual minus budgeted) for utilities are -10, 5, -5, and -12. STDEV.P of 6.58 shows how consistently utilities spending deviates from budget. A lower value would indicate more predictable spending patterns.

3. Analyze spending distribution across categories in January

CategoryJanuary Actual
Utilities160
Groceries620
Gas210
=STDEV.P(160,620,210)

Result: 206.08

January spending across the three categories is 160, 620, and 210. The population standard deviation is 206.08, reflecting large differences between groceries (highest) and utilities (lowest). This high standard deviation indicates uneven spending distribution across budget categories.

Common errors

Which STDEV.P error are you seeing?
STDEV.P returned an error#VALUE!
Check the range for text labels or non-numeric entries; exclude them or convert text numbers using VALUE().
#NAME?
Verify the spelling is exactly STDEV.P; check that your spreadsheet application supports this function (Excel 2010+ and Google Sheets).
#REF!
Update the formula to reference the current location of your data, or use a named range for stability.
ErrorWhy it happensHow to fix it
#VALUE!A cell in the range contains text or mixed data types that cannot be interpreted as a number.Check the range for text labels or non-numeric entries; exclude them or convert text numbers using VALUE().
#NAME?The function name is misspelled (e.g., STDEV.POP, STDEVP, or STDEV_P) or the spreadsheet doesn't recognize it.Verify the spelling is exactly STDEV.P; check that your spreadsheet application supports this function (Excel 2010+ and Google Sheets).
#REF!The formula references a cell range that has been deleted, moved, or is otherwise inaccessible.Update the formula to reference the current location of your data, or use a named range for stability.

Tips and when to use something else

  • Use STDEV.P when your data represents the entire population. Use STDEV.S instead if your data is a sample and you want an unbiased estimate of population variation.
  • STDEV.P and STDEV.S produce different results on the same data—STDEV.S is slightly larger because it applies a correction factor for sampling.
  • STDEV.P automatically ignores text and boolean values (TRUE/FALSE); use COUNT to verify only numeric values are included.
  • Compare STDEV.P to AVERAGE for context: if standard deviation is close to the average, values are highly variable; if much smaller, they cluster tightly.

Related functions

STDEV.SSTDEV.S returns the sample standard deviation of numeric values, measuring how spread apart data points are from their mean.AVERAGEAVERAGE calculates the arithmetic mean of numbers, ignoring text and logical values; returns a single numeric value representing the average.COUNTCOUNT counts the number of cells containing numeric values and dates in one or more ranges, ignoring text and blank cells.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between STDEV.P and STDEV.S?
STDEV.P calculates standard deviation for an entire population (all data you care about), while STDEV.S estimates it for a sample. STDEV.S is slightly larger because it includes a correction factor. Use STDEV.P only when your data is the complete dataset; use STDEV.S for subsets or samples.
Why is my STDEV.P result 0?
A result of 0 means all values in your dataset are identical—there is no variation. This is correct behavior; a population with no variance around the mean has a standard deviation of 0.
Can STDEV.P handle negative numbers?
Yes, STDEV.P works with negative numbers, zero, and positive numbers equally. The formula treats them all as data points when calculating how spread out the values are.
Should I use STDEV.P or VARIANCE.P for my budget analysis?
VARIANCE.P is the square of STDEV.P, so they measure the same variation—just in different units. STDEV.P is easier to interpret because it's in the same units as your data (dollars); VARIANCE.P is larger and harder to read directly but is useful for statistical calculations.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17