Syntax
STDEV.P(value1, [value2, ...])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| value1 | Parameter of the STDEV.P function. |
| [value2 | (Optional.) Parameter of the STDEV.P function. |
| ...] | Parameter of the STDEV.P function. |
Examples
Entire class performance
Formula
=STDEV.P(B2:B31)
If B2:B31 contains every student's score in the class (not a sample), this gives the exact population standard deviation.
Machine output variation
Formula
=STDEV.P(D2:D1000)
Measures the exact spread of all 999 measurements taken from a single production run — the population of that run.
Comparing to sample STDEV
Formula
=STDEV.P(A1:A100) < STDEV.S(A1:A100)
Always returns TRUE — the population standard deviation is always smaller than the sample version for the same data.
Common Errors
#DIV/0!
No numeric values in the range. Unlike STDEV.S, STDEV.P technically only needs 1 data point (though the result would be 0).
#VALUE!
Non-numeric direct arguments.
Tips
Always smaller than STDEV.S
For the same data, STDEV.P is always slightly smaller than STDEV.S. The difference shrinks as sample size grows — with 1000+ values, they are nearly identical.
When in doubt, use STDEV.S
Most real-world data is a sample. Unless you are certain you have the entire population, STDEV.S is the safer choice.
Used in control charts
In Six Sigma and quality control, STDEV.P is used when analyzing a complete batch or production run to set control limits.
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