QUARTILE.EXC Function

Summary

QUARTILE.EXC returns quartile values using the exclusive method. It is basically the quartile version of PERCENTILE.EXC, so it gives you the 25%, 50%, and 75% cutoffs while excluding the endpoints from the quartile scheme.

This function is useful when you want a quick quarter-based breakdown instead of typing percentile decimals. The three valid quartile positions are 1, 2, and 3, which map to the first quartile, median, and third quartile.

QUARTILE.EXC is useful when the workbook needs the data split into four ranked sections using the exclusive quartile method. It helps identify distribution cutoffs and is especially helpful in outlier analysis, segmentation, and range-based reporting.

Syntax

=QUARTILE.EXC(array, quart)

array is the dataset, and quart tells Excel which quartile to return. Use 1 for Q1, 2 for Q2, and 3 for Q3.

Arguments

• array - [required] The numeric range or array you want to split into quartiles.
• quart - [required] The quartile to return. In practice, use 1, 2, or 3.

QUARTILE.EXC vs Other Functions

A short way to think about it is this: QUARTILE.EXC(array,1) lines up with the 25th percentile, 2 lines up with the median, and 3 lines up with the 75th percentile.

Using the QUARTILE.EXC Function

This function is useful when you want to divide a list into lower, middle, and upper sections without talking in percentile decimals. That makes it easy to explain in dashboards and reports. Instead of saying "use the 75th percentile," you can say "use the third quartile" and keep the logic readable.

Microsoft notes that if the array is empty, Excel returns #NUM!. If quart is not an integer, Excel truncates it. If quart<=0 or quart>=4, Excel returns #NUM!. That is the practical difference from QUARTILE.INC, which allows 0 and 4.

• Use Q1 for the lower-quarter cutoff.
• Use Q2 when you want the median through the quartile pattern.
• Use Q3 to mark the start of the upper quarter.

Example 1 - Find the first quartile

This example finds the cutoff for the lower quarter of the dataset. In practical terms, it tells you the value below which roughly the lowest 25% of the data falls when the values are ordered.

That makes Q1 useful for setting lower-band boundaries, spotting low-performing groups, or describing where the bottom section of the distribution begins.

=QUARTILE.EXC(B1:B10,1) // Returns Q1.

Example 2 - Find the third quartile

This example returns the cutoff for the upper quarter of the dataset. It marks the point above which the highest 25% of the ordered values begin.

That makes Q3 useful when you want to define a high group, create upper-tier score bands, or identify where stronger results start to separate from the middle of the list.

=QUARTILE.EXC(A1:A10,3) // Returns Q3.

Example 3 - Return the median quartile

Quartile 2 is the middle cutoff, which means this example returns the median of the dataset. It is the point that splits the ordered list into two equal halves.

That helps show that quartiles are not only about the lower and upper quarter boundaries. They also include the middle reference point that many people already know as the median.

=QUARTILE.EXC(B1:B10,2) // Returns Q2, the median.

Example 4 - Set an upper-group cutoff

This example uses the upper quartile as a practical cutoff rather than as a statistic you just report. The result gives you a boundary you can use to label values as part of the upper group.

That is useful in score bands, tiered reporting, or any sheet where you want a rule such as "top quarter starts here" instead of only a raw list of values.

=QUARTILE.EXC(B1:B10,3) // Returns the upper-quarter cutoff.

Conclusion Recap

QUARTILE.EXC is a simpler way to get the exclusive 25%, 50%, and 75% cutoffs without typing percentile decimals yourself. This lesson showed that it works best when you want to split a dataset into lower, middle, and upper sections in a way that is easy to explain.

The main thing to remember is that this version only uses quart values 1, 2, and 3. It does not include endpoint quartiles, so if you need a version that reaches the minimum or maximum too, QUARTILE.INC is the better fit.

• Main job: QUARTILE.EXC returns quartile cutoffs using the exclusive method.
• Valid quart values: Use 1, 2, or 3.
• Meaning: Q1 is 25%, Q2 is 50%, and Q3 is 75%.
• Key limit: This version does not support endpoint quartiles like 0 or 4.
• Good use cases: Group cutoffs, score bands, and upper or lower tier boundaries.