How do you calculate quartiles in Excel?

The correct method to calculate quartiles in Excel involves using the function =QUARTILE.EXC, which stands for "exclusive quartile." This function calculates the quartiles based on a dataset while excluding the lowest and highest values, effectively calculating quartiles based on the concept of the "interquartile range."

The exclusive approach distinguishes itself particularly when handling small sample sizes, allowing for a more precise interpretation of the data distribution by focusing on the middle 50% of the dataset. Excel uses a zero-based index for the quartile number, meaning that for the first quartile, you'd input 1, for the second quartile (median) use 2, and for the third quartile input 3.

Other options utilize different methodologies. For example, =QUARTILE.INC includes all data points, accounting for the entire range, which might yield different results depending on your needs. The other functions listed, such as =QUARTILE.CALC, might refer to alternate or specific quartile calculations that are less commonly used or recognized in standard quartile calculation discussions. Thus, =QUARTILE.EXC provides a focused and effective calculation suited for most analytical purposes regarding quartiles in Excel.