DSTDEV
The DSTDEV function is used to calculate the standard deviation of a sample set from a database, based on a specified field and optional criteria. DSTDEV stands for 'Database STandard DEViation.'- How to use
DSTDEV
formula? - Examples of using
DSTDEV
formula DSTDEV
formula not working?- Similar formulas to
DSTDEV
Usage
Use the DSTDEV
formula with the syntax shown below, it has 2 required parameters and 1 optional parameter:
- database (required):
The range of cells that make up the database to be analyzed. - field (required):
The column or field within the database from which to calculate the standard deviation. - criteria (optional):
[Optional] The range of cells that contain the criteria to be applied to the database before calculating the standard deviation.
Examples
Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use theDSTDEV
formula in Google Sheets.
Calculate the standard deviation of a single field in a database
Use DSTDEV to quickly calculate the standard deviation of a single field within a database, without having to manually extract the field and perform the calculation separately.
Calculate the standard deviation of a field based on criteria
Use DSTDEV with a criteria range to calculate the standard deviation of a field based on specific criteria, such as a date range or a specific category.
Compare the standard deviation of two fields
Use DSTDEV to compare the standard deviation of two different fields within a database, to gain insights into the variability of different data sets.
Analyze trends over time
Use DSTDEV with a date range criteria to analyze trends over time, by calculating the standard deviation of a field over a series of time periods.
Identify outliers
Use DSTDEV to identify potential outliers within a database, by identifying fields with a standard deviation that is significantly higher or lower than the average.
Common Mistakes
DSTDEV
not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the DSTDEV
Google Sheets Formula:
Using the wrong column reference
Make sure that the column reference for the field parameter is correct and matches the column that contains the values you want to use for the calculation.
Forgetting to include the criteria parameter
If you want to include only certain records in the calculation, make sure to include a criteria range as the third parameter. Otherwise, the function will use all records in the database range.
Using the wrong criteria reference
Make sure that the column reference for the criteria parameter is correct and matches the column that contains the criteria you want to use for the calculation.
Misinterpreting the output
Remember that DSTDEV
returns the standard deviation of the population, not a sample of the population. Make sure to interpret the result accordingly.
Using the function with non-numeric data
DSTDEV
can only be used with numeric data. Make sure that the values in the field you are using for the calculation are all numeric.
Related Formulas
The following functions are similar to DSTDEV
or are often used with it in a formula:
-
DAVERAGE
The
DAVERAGE
function calculates the average value of a specified field in a database that matches the given criteria. The function is commonly used in financial and business analysis to calculate averages based on specific conditions. -
DGET
The
DGET
formula is used to retrieve a single value from a database table based on specified criteria. It returns the value of a cell in a column that meets the criteria specified in the formula. -
DMAX
The
DMAX
function is a Database function in Google Sheets that returns the maximum value of a single column in a database table that meets specified criteria. The criteria can be specified using multiple conditions. This function is commonly used in data analysis, especially when working with large datasets. -
DMIN
The
DMIN
function returns the minimum value from a column in a database, based on a specified condition. This function is commonly used to extract specific data from large databases. -
DVAR
DVAR
is a Google Sheets formula used in database management. It calculates the variance of a given field in a filtered database range. This function is useful for organizing and analyzing large sets of data.
Learn More
You can learn more about the DSTDEV
Google Sheets function on Google Support.