Statistical

NORM.DIST Function in Excel

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

Syntax

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

Arguments

  • x (required): Value to evaluate
  • mean (required): Distribution mean
  • standard_dev (required): Standard deviation
  • cumulative (required): TRUE for CDF, FALSE for PDF

Examples

  • =NORM.DIST(1, 0, 1, TRUE) - Standard normal CDF - Result: 0.841

NORM.DIST for data analysis

  • Confirm whether you need entire columns, filtered subsets, or distinct values.
  • Use [COUNTIFS](/functions/countifs/) and [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/) for multi-criteria metrics.
  • Pivot tables complement single-cell statistical formulas for exploration.

Common errors

  • #NUM! if standard_dev <= 0

Use cases

  • Probability calculations
  • Statistical analysis
  • Quality control

Frequently asked questions

  • What is NORM.DIST used for? NORM.DIST calculates probabilities for normally distributed data. With cumulative=TRUE, it returns the probability that a value is less than or equal to x. With cumulative=FALSE, it returns the probability density at x. Essential for statistical analysis and quality control.
  • What's the difference between cumulative TRUE and FALSE? Cumulative=TRUE gives P(X ≤ x), the area under the curve to the left of x. Cumulative=FALSE gives the height of the curve at x (probability density). Use TRUE for 'probability of being at most x'; use FALSE for plotting the bell curve.
  • How do I calculate probability between two values? Subtract two cumulative probabilities: =NORM.DIST(upper, mean, stdev, TRUE) - NORM.DIST(lower, mean, stdev, TRUE). Example: probability of score between 70-90 with mean=75, stdev=10: =NORM.DIST(90,75,10,TRUE)-NORM.DIST(70,75,10,TRUE).

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.