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.

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 marks the lower-quarter boundary.

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

Example 2 - Find the third quartile

This marks the upper-quarter boundary.

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

Example 3 - Return the median quartile

Quartile 2 returns the middle cutoff.

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

Example 4 - Set an upper-group cutoff

This is a simple way to define where the upper group begins.

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

Conclusion Recap

• 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.