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STDEV
STDEV calculates the standard deviation of a sample using the n-1 denominator (Bessel's correction), ignoring non-numeric values. It quantifies how spread out values are around the mean and is the most common dispersion metric in business and science.
Excel
=STDEV(B2:B5)Google Sheets
=STDEV(B2:B5)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Month | Sales |
| Jan | 4200 |
| Feb | 5100 |
| Mar | 4800 |
| Apr | 5500 |
=STDEV(B2:B5)→547.7225575052
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How it works
- 1Reference your sample data range: =STDEV(B2:B5).
- 2STDEV uses n-1 in the denominator, appropriate for samples drawn from a larger population.
- 3A larger result means values are more spread out; 0 means all values are identical.
Need a version for your data?
Try: “Calculate the standard deviation of monthly sales to measure consistency”