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How to calculate a z-score in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:RANK & statistical aggregatesExcel & Google Sheets
=(B2-AVERAGE($B$2:$B$6))/STDEV($B$2:$B$6)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Name | Score |
| Alice | 82 |
| Bob | 74 |
| Carol | 91 |
| Dan | 68 |
| Eve | 85 |
=(B2-AVERAGE($B$2:$B$6))/STDEV($B$2:$B$6)→0.220192753
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Step by step
- 1In an empty column next to your data, click the first data cell row (e.g. C2).
- 2Type =(B2-AVERAGE($B$2:$B$6))/STDEV($B$2:$B$6) — lock the range references with $ so they don't shift when you copy down.
- 3Press Enter, then copy the formula down for all data rows.
- 4A positive z-score means the value is above the mean; negative means below.
Tips
- STDEV calculates the sample standard deviation. Use STDEVP if your data is the entire population, not a sample.
- Z-scores above 3 or below -3 are often considered outliers in normally distributed data.
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between STDEV and STDEVP?
STDEV (also STDEV.S) divides by n-1 for a sample; STDEVP (also STDEV.P) divides by n for a full population. Use STDEV unless you have every data point in the population.
Can I z-score multiple columns at once?
Yes — apply the formula column-by-column, using absolute references for each column's own range.
More on RANK & statistical aggregates
See all →Reference
RANK.EQ
Returns the rank of a number in a list, assigning the same rank to ties (same as RANK). Essential for leaderboards.
How-toHow to rank values
Rank a number against a list with RANK — highest first or lowest first. Works the same in Excel and Google Sheets.
ReferenceRANK.AVG
Returns the rank of a number, averaging ranks for ties. Useful in statistical analysis where tied ranks should not cluster.
How-toHow to calculate standard deviation
Measure how spread out your numbers are with STDEV for a sample or STDEVP for a whole population. Works in Excel and Google Sheets.
ReferencePERCENTILE
Returns the k-th percentile value from a dataset. Useful for performance benchmarking and threshold analysis.
How-toHow to calculate a weighted average
Combine values and their weights with SUMPRODUCT divided by the total weight. Works the same in Excel and Google Sheets.