Syntax
FREQUENCY(data_array, bins_array)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| data_array | Parameter of the FREQUENCY function. |
| bins_array | Parameter of the FREQUENCY function. |
Examples
Grade distribution
Formula
=FREQUENCY(C2:C50, {59, 69, 79, 89})
Counts how many of 49 test scores fall into: 0-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90+. Returns 5 values (one more than the 4 bins).
Age group counts
Formula
=FREQUENCY(B2:B1000, {18, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65})
Groups ages into: <=18, 19-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66+. Returns 7 counts.
Histogram buckets
Formula
=FREQUENCY(D2:D200, E2:E10)
Uses bin boundaries in E2:E10 to create 10 frequency counts (9 bins + 1 overflow bucket).
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Arguments are not valid ranges or arrays.
#N/A
Can occur if the formula is not entered as an array formula (in older spreadsheet apps, use Ctrl+Shift+Enter).
Tips
Result has n+1 elements
If your bins array has n values, FREQUENCY returns n+1 counts. The last count captures everything above the highest bin.
Bins must be in ascending order
Sort your bin boundaries from smallest to largest. Unsorted bins produce incorrect counts.
Empty bins return 0
If no values fall in a particular range, FREQUENCY returns 0 for that bin — it does not skip empty bins.
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