QUARTILE

Statistical Functions

(4.8/5)

Returns the quartile of a data set. QUARTILE divides data into four equal parts. Quart values: 0=minimum, 1=1st quartile (25th percentile), 2=median (50th percentile), 3=3rd quartile (75th percentile), 4=maximum. QUARTILE uses inclusive method (same as QUARTILE.INC). Essential for quartile analysis, box plots, IQR calculation, outlier detection, and statistical analysis.

Interactive Formula Tester

Values,Quart:

Formula:

=QUARTILE("10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 2")

Complete Theory & Understanding

Master the fundamentals of Excel QUARTILE function

Core Concept

The QUARTILE function returns the quartile of a data set. QUARTILE divides data into four equal parts (quartiles). The quart parameter specifies which quartile: 0=minimum, 1=1st quartile (25th percentile/Q1), 2=median (50th percentile), 3=3rd quartile (75th percentile/Q3), 4=maximum. QUARTILE uses the inclusive method and is equivalent to QUARTILE.INC. It can return the minimum (quart=0) and maximum (quart=4) values. Essential for quartile analysis, box plots, IQR (Interquartile Range) calculation (Q3-Q1), outlier detection, data distribution analysis, and statistical analysis.

Why Use QUARTILE?

Find quartile values
Create box plots
Calculate Interquartile Range
Identify outliers

Key Characteristics

Quart Values 0-4

Quart parameter 0 to 4

0=min, 1=Q1, 2=median, 3=Q3, 4=max

Inclusive Method

Uses inclusive method

QUARTILE = QUARTILE.INC

Four Quartiles

Divides into four parts

Q1, median, Q3, plus min/max

Box Plot Values

Provides box plot values

Min, Q1, median, Q3, max

Function Anatomy

=QUARTILE(parameters...)

Required

Parameters:

Function-specific parameters

Returns

Return Value:

Function-specific return type

Primary Use Cases

Quartile Analysis

Find quartile values

Box Plots

Create box plots

IQR Calculation

Calculate Interquartile Range

Outlier Detection

Identify outliers

Theory Summary

Precise

Exact matching required

Position-Based

Returns numeric position

Error-Safe

Handles missing text gracefully

Syntax & Parameters

=QUARTILE(array, quart)

Required

array:

Array or range of data values.

Required

quart:

Quartile value: 0=minimum, 1=1st quartile (25th percentile), 2=median (50th percentile), 3=3rd quartile (75th percentile), 4=maximum.

Returns

Return Value:

The quartile value

Description: Returns the quartile of a data set

Interactive Examples

QUARTILE - Minimum (quart=0)

Get minimum value

Input Text:

"A1:A10, 0"

Formula:

=QUARTILE(A1:A10, 0)

Result:

Minimum value

QUARTILE(range, 0) returns the minimum value. Same as MIN(range).

VBA Implementation & Automation

Basic QUARTILE in VBA

Use QUARTILE function in VBA

' Basic QUARTILE in VBA
Range("C1").Value = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 2)
' Returns: Median (50th percentile)

' Calculate all quartiles
Sub CalculateAllQuartiles()
    Dim minValue As Double
    Dim q1Value As Double
    Dim medianValue As Double
    Dim q3Value As Double
    Dim maxValue As Double
    
    minValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 0)
    q1Value = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 1)
    medianValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 2)
    q3Value = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 3)
    maxValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 4)
    
    Range("B1").Value = "Min: " & minValue
    Range("B2").Value = "Q1: " & q1Value
    Range("B3").Value = "Median: " & medianValue
    Range("B4").Value = "Q3: " & q3Value
    Range("B5").Value = "Max: " & maxValue
End Sub

' Compare QUARTILE with QUARTILE.INC
Sub CompareQuartileINC()
    Dim quartileValue As Double
    Dim quartileINCValue As Double
    Dim quart As Integer
    
    quart = 1 ' 1st quartile
    quartileValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), quart)
    quartileINCValue = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile_Inc(Range("A1:A10"), quart)
    
    Range("B1").Value = "QUARTILE: " & quartileValue
    Range("B2").Value = "QUARTILE.INC: " & quartileINCValue
    ' Should be equal
End Sub

' Calculate IQR (Interquartile Range)
Sub CalculateIQR()
    Dim q1 As Double
    Dim q3 As Double
    Dim iqr As Double
    
    q1 = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 1)
    q3 = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 3)
    iqr = q3 - q1
    
    Range("B1").Value = "Q1: " & q1
    Range("B2").Value = "Q3: " & q3
    Range("B3").Value = "IQR: " & iqr
End Sub

' Find outlier boundaries
Sub FindOutlierBoundaries()
    Dim q1 As Double
    Dim q3 As Double
    Dim iqr As Double
    Dim lowerBound As Double
    Dim upperBound As Double
    
    q1 = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 1)
    q3 = Application.WorksheetFunction.Quartile(Range("A1:A10"), 3)
    iqr = q3 - q1
    lowerBound = q1 - 1.5 * iqr
    upperBound = q3 + 1.5 * iqr
    
    Range("B1").Value = "Lower bound: " & lowerBound
    Range("B2").Value = "Upper bound: " & upperBound
End Sub

Business Applications

Quartile Analysis

Find quartile values

=QUARTILE(data_range, 1)

Box Plots

Create box plots

=QUARTILE(range, {0,1,2,3,4})

IQR Calculation

Calculate Interquartile Range

=QUARTILE(range, 3) - QUARTILE(range, 1)

Outlier Detection

Identify outliers

Use Q1 and Q3 to find boundaries

Common Issues & Solutions

#NUM! Error

QUARTILE returns #NUM!

quart must be 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4

Solution: quart must be 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. If quart is outside this range or not an integer, QUARTILE returns #NUM!. Use only values 0-4.

Wrong Quartile

Getting unexpected value

0=min, 1=Q1, 2=median, 3=Q3, 4=max

Solution: Check quart value. 0=min, 1=Q1 (25th percentile), 2=median (50th percentile), 3=Q3 (75th percentile), 4=max. Remember these values.

QUARTILE vs QUARTILE.INC

Uncertainty about difference

QUARTILE = QUARTILE.INC (identical functions)

Solution: QUARTILE and QUARTILE.INC are equivalent - they have identical behavior. Both use inclusive method. Use either one.

QUARTILE vs QUARTILE.EXC

Uncertainty about difference

QUARTILE includes endpoints, QUARTILE.EXC excludes

Solution: QUARTILE uses inclusive method - can return min (quart=0) and max (quart=4). QUARTILE.EXC uses exclusive method - cannot return exact min/max for quartiles 1-3. QUARTILE includes endpoints, QUARTILE.EXC excludes.