Statistical
NORM.S.DIST Function in Excel
Returns the standard normal distribution (mean=0, std=1).
Syntax
- =NORM.S.DIST(z, cumulative)
Arguments
- z (required): Z-score to evaluate
- cumulative (required): TRUE for CDF, FALSE for PDF
Examples
- =NORM.S.DIST(1.96, TRUE) - Standard normal CDF - Result: 0.975
NORM.S.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
- Must be numeric
Use cases
- Z-score probabilities
- Hypothesis testing
- Statistical tables
Frequently asked questions
- What is NORM.S.DIST? NORM.S.DIST calculates probabilities for the standard normal distribution (mean=0, standard deviation=1). It's equivalent to NORM.DIST(z, 0, 1, cumulative). Use it when working with z-scores or standardized data.
- How do I convert a z-score to probability? Use =NORM.S.DIST(z, TRUE) for cumulative probability. Example: =NORM.S.DIST(1.96, TRUE) returns 0.975, meaning 97.5% of values fall below z=1.96. For two-tailed probability, use =2*(1-NORM.S.DIST(ABS(z), TRUE)).
- When should I use NORM.S.DIST vs NORM.DIST? Use NORM.S.DIST when you've already standardized your data to z-scores. Use NORM.DIST when working with raw data and known mean/stdev. They're mathematically equivalent: NORM.S.DIST(z, TRUE) = NORM.DIST(z, 0, 1, TRUE).
Editorial review
- Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.