What is the syntax for SKEW in Excel?

The syntax for SKEW is: =SKEW(number1, [number2], ...)

What is skewness and what does SKEW measure?

Skewness measures asymmetry in data distribution. SKEW=0 means symmetric (like normal distribution). Positive skew: tail extends right (mean > median). Negative skew: tail extends left (mean < median). Income data is typically right-skewed.

How do I interpret SKEW values?

SKEW ≈ 0: symmetric distribution. SKEW > 0: right-skewed (long right tail, most values below mean). SKEW < 0: left-skewed (long left tail, most values above mean). Values beyond ±1 indicate significant skewness.

Why does skewness matter for data analysis?

Skewed data affects which statistics to use. For right-skewed data (like income), median is better than mean for 'typical' value. Skewness also affects statistical tests - many assume normality. Consider transformations (log, sqrt) for highly skewed data.

Statistical

SKEW Function in Excel

Q: What is the SKEW function in Excel?

Returns the skewness of a distribution, measuring asymmetry.

Q: How do I interpret SKEW values?

SKEW ≈ 0: symmetric distribution. SKEW > 0: right-skewed (long right tail, most values below mean). SKEW < 0: left-skewed (long left tail, most values above mean). Values beyond ±1 indicate significant skewness.

Q: Why does skewness matter for data analysis?

Skewed data affects which statistics to use. For right-skewed data (like income), median is better than mean for 'typical' value. Skewness also affects statistical tests - many assume normality. Consider transformations (log, sqrt) for highly skewed data.

Returns the skewness of a distribution, measuring asymmetry.

Syntax

=SKEW(number1, [number2], ...)

Arguments

number1 (required): First number or range
number2 (optional): Additional numbers or ranges

Examples

=SKEW(A1:A100) - Skewness - Result: Skewness value

SKEW 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

Needs at least 3 data points

Use cases

Distribution shape
Data analysis
Risk assessment

Frequently asked questions

What is skewness and what does SKEW measure? Skewness measures asymmetry in data distribution. SKEW=0 means symmetric (like normal distribution). Positive skew: tail extends right (mean > median). Negative skew: tail extends left (mean < median). Income data is typically right-skewed.
How do I interpret SKEW values? SKEW ≈ 0: symmetric distribution. SKEW > 0: right-skewed (long right tail, most values below mean). SKEW < 0: left-skewed (long left tail, most values above mean). Values beyond ±1 indicate significant skewness.
Why does skewness matter for data analysis? Skewed data affects which statistics to use. For right-skewed data (like income), median is better than mean for 'typical' value. Skewness also affects statistical tests - many assume normality. Consider transformations (log, sqrt) for highly skewed data.

Editorial review

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