In Excel: use =VAR.S(range) for a sample, or =VAR.P(range) for a full population.
On this page7
List your numbers in one column or row.
In a blank cell type =VAR.S( and select the range.
Press Enter for the sample variance.
Use =VAR.P(range) when the data is the whole population rather than a sample.
What this does
Variance is the average squared distance of each value from the mean — the raw measure of spread that standard deviation is built on. Because it squares the differences, its units are squared too (euros², points²), which is why standard deviation, its square root, is usually the figure people quote. Variance still matters wherever the maths needs the un-rooted quantity, such as combining the spread of independent sources. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “variance calculation in excel”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected cells visible, and compare the result with the outcome you expected before you touch the real workbook. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. The point is a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
For 12, 15, 9, 21, 17, 14 (mean 14.67), =VAR.S(A1:A6) returns about 17.07. Take its square root and you get the standard deviation, ≈4.13. Variance underpins portfolio theory, ANOVA, and any model that has to add up uncertainty from several sources. When the next step is more maths rather than a human-readable report, variance is the quantity you keep. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.
In Google Sheets
Google Sheets support for this task has not been verified. Check the function, arguments and workflow in the target product before transferring the example. Matching formula notation does not establish identical behaviour. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, repeat the steps once in your own workbook — doing it yourself is what turns a copied answer into something you remember. For “variance calculation in excel”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.
Common mistakes
- Reporting variance where readers expect standard deviation — the squared units mislead.
- Choosing VAR.P for a sample, which understates the true spread.
- Including non-numeric cells in the range.
- Forgetting that adding a constant to every value leaves variance unchanged, while scaling multiplies it by the square.
Frequently asked questions
Variance or standard deviation?
Report standard deviation to humans (same units as the data); keep variance for further calculation, where its additive property across independent sources is convenient.
Why square the differences?
Squaring removes the sign so positive and negative deviations do not cancel, and it penalises large deviations more, which is exactly what a spread measure should do.
Does Google Sheets have VAR.S?
Yes — VAR.S and VAR.P work identically in Google Sheets, so these formulas transfer with no change.