How to Calculate Standard Deviation in Microsoft Excel

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

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Use this interactive demo to learn how to calculate standard deviation using Excel's STDEV formula.

Quick summary

The STDEV function in Microsoft Excel lets you calculate standard deviation for any data range using a simple formula. This step-by-step demo shows exactly how to select the right cell, enter the correct syntax, and define your data range.

Steps

Open your file in MS Excel and click on the cell where you want the standard deviation result to display.
Type =STDEV into the selected cell and choose the type of standard deviation you wish to use from the suggestions.
Add an open parenthesis, select the cell range you want to include in the calculation, then close the parenthesis and press Enter.

📌 Why this matters

Calculating standard deviation in Microsoft Excel is a fundamental statistical skill for analysts, students, and business professionals who need to measure data variability quickly. Excel's built-in STDEV function eliminates manual calculations, reducing errors and saving time when working with large datasets. Knowing how to correctly apply the STDEV formula — including selecting the right cell range and formula variant — ensures accurate, repeatable results across spreadsheets. Mastering this function helps teams make data-driven decisions faster without needing specialized statistical software.

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