ExcelStatisticalAdvanced

NORM.DIST

Returns the normal distribution for a specified mean and standard deviation.

Read the syntaxReview worked examplesOpen the spreadsheet app
=NORM.DIST(x, mean, standard_dev, cumulative)
Open Spreadsheet Explorer

This static page keeps the function indexed for search, while the spreadsheet app handles interactive exploration and saved formulas.

What the function does

Overview

Returns the normal distribution for a specified mean and standard deviation.

NORM.DIST calculates the normal distribution for a specified mean and standard deviation, providing either the probability density function (PDF) or the cumulative distribution function (CDF). Use cumulative=TRUE to find the probability that a random variable is less than or equal to x (area under the curve), which is ideal for calculating percentiles, p-values, or risk thresholds in data analysis. Use cumulative=FALSE to find the height of the probability density function at a specific point, which is useful for visualizing the shape of a bell curve or calculating relative likelihoods. A critical technical requirement is that the ev argument must be strictly greater than 0; a value of 0 or less will trigger a #NUM! error. When the mean is 0 and the ev is 1, NORM.DIST results are identical to the standard normal distribution. For the best statistical accuracy, ensure your underlying data is continuous and symmetric, as this function assumes a Gaussian distribution.

Quick reference

Syntax

=NORM.DIST(x, mean, standard_dev, cumulative)

Inputs

Arguments

xValue to evaluate
Example: 75
meanDistribution mean
Example: 70
standard_devStandard deviation
Example: 10
cumulativeTRUE=CDF, FALSE=PDF
Example: TRUE

Formula patterns

Examples

1

Calculate cumulative probability (lower tail)

=NORM.DIST(A2, B2, C2, TRUE)
statisticsprobability
2

Find probability density at a specific point

=NORM.DIST(A3, B3, C3, FALSE)
modelingvisualizing
3

Determine the probability of a value within a range

=NORM.DIST(A4, B4, C4, TRUE) - NORM.DIST(A5, B4, C4, TRUE)
financequality control

Avoid these issues

Common Errors

1

#NUM!

Cause: The standard_dev argument is less than or equal to 0.

Fix: Ensure the cell reference for standard_dev contains a value greater than zero.

2

#VALUE!

Cause: Any of the arguments (x, mean, or standard_dev) are non-numeric.

Fix: Check for text, spaces, or non-numeric characters in the referenced cells and convert them to numbers.

Platform support

Compatibility

Excel 2010+Excel-first

Source: Microsoft Support

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Returns the normal distribution for a specified mean and standard deviation.

x: Value to evaluate mean: Distribution mean ev: Standard deviation cumulative: TRUE=CDF, FALSE=PDF

#NUM!: Ensure the cell reference for ev contains a value greater than zero. #VALUE!: Check for text, spaces, or non-numeric characters in the referenced cells and convert them to numbers.