Syntax
STDEV.S(value1, [value2, ...])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| value1 | Parameter of the STDEV.S function. |
| [value2 | (Optional.) Parameter of the STDEV.S function. |
| ...] | Parameter of the STDEV.S function. |
Examples
Sample delivery time variation
Formula
=STDEV.S(C2:C200)
Estimates the standard deviation of delivery times from a sample of 199 orders. Helps set realistic delivery windows.
Portfolio volatility
Formula
=STDEV.S(E2:E253) * SQRT(252)
Calculates daily return standard deviation then annualizes it (252 trading days). This is the standard way to compute stock volatility.
Process stability
Formula
=STDEV.S(B2:B100) / AVG(B2:B100)
Returns the coefficient of variation (CV) — a normalized measure of spread. CV below 0.1 typically indicates a stable process.
Common Errors
#DIV/0!
Fewer than 2 numeric values in the range. At least 2 data points are needed for a sample standard deviation.
#VALUE!
Non-numeric direct arguments.
Tips
Identical to STDEV
STDEV.S and STDEV produce the same result. The .S suffix makes it explicit that this is the sample version.
Choose .S vs .P carefully
If you measured every item in the population (all employees, all products ever made), use STDEV.P. If you sampled a subset, use STDEV.S.
Annualizing
To annualize daily standard deviation, multiply by SQRT(number of periods). For monthly data annualized: STDEV.S * SQRT(12).
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