Statistical

NORM.INV Function in Excel

Returns the inverse of the normal cumulative distribution.

Syntax

  • =NORM.INV(probability, mean, standard_dev)

Arguments

  • probability (required): Probability (0 to 1)
  • mean (required): Distribution mean
  • standard_dev (required): Standard deviation

Examples

  • =NORM.INV(0.95, 0, 1) - 95th percentile - Result: 1.645

NORM.INV 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 probability not between 0 and 1

Use cases

  • Critical values
  • Confidence intervals
  • Risk analysis

Frequently asked questions

  • What is NORM.INV used for? NORM.INV finds the value (x) that corresponds to a given probability in a normal distribution. It's the inverse of NORM.DIST. Use it to find percentiles, critical values for hypothesis testing, or values at specific probability thresholds.
  • How do I find the 95th percentile with NORM.INV? Use =NORM.INV(0.95, mean, stdev). For a distribution with mean=100 and stdev=15, =NORM.INV(0.95, 100, 15) returns ~124.7. This means 95% of values fall below 124.7 in this distribution.
  • How do I calculate confidence interval bounds? For a 95% CI: Lower = NORM.INV(0.025, mean, stdev), Upper = NORM.INV(0.975, mean, stdev). The 0.025 and 0.975 leave 2.5% in each tail. For sample means, use stdev/SQRT(n) as the standard deviation.

Editorial review

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