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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.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
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.