How to use the SMALL function
The SMALL function returns the k-th smallest value from a group of numbers.
Example, formula in cell E3 returns 5 because it is the third smallest number in cell range B3:B7. 2, 3, 5, 5 and 6.
Excel Function Syntax
SMALL(array, k)
Arguments
| array | Required. A group of numbers you want to extract the k-th smallest number from. |
| k | Required. k-th value, 1 returns the smallest number, 2 returns the second smallest number etc. |
Example 1 - Cell range contains numbers, text and blanks
becomes
=SMALL({3; 6; "A"; 5; "X"; 0; 4; 4},3)
Text strings and blanks are overlooked. The array becomes
=SMALL({3; 6; ; 5; ; ; 4; 4},3)
and returns 4. 4 is the third smallest numerical value in the array.
Example 2 - Use a condition (Array formula)
The following array formula looks for the second smallest value in column C if corresponding value in adjacent column D is 2012-Dec:
becomes
=SMALL(IF({"2013-Jan"; "2012-Dec"; "2013-Jan"; "2012-Dec"; "2012-Nov"; "2013-Jan"; "2013-Jan"; "2012-Dec"; "2013-Jan"; "2012-Nov"; "2012-Dec"}="2012-Dec", C4:C14, ""), F4)
becomes
=SMALL(IF({FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;TRUE}, C4:C14, ""), F4)
becomes
=SMALL({"";60.69;"";8.08;"";"";"";24.44;"";"";2.25}, 2)
and returns 8.08 in cell F7.
Download excel *.xlsx file
This extensive function reference list provides detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for many of the functions used in Excel formulas. Click on headers to sort table.
Articles with the 'SMALL' Function
The following 7 articles have formulas that contain the SMALL function.
SMALL function with duplicates
The formulas in column E, shown in the picture above, extracts the k-th smallest value from B3:B9 ignoring the duplicate numbers. [โฆ]
SMALL function โ INDEX MATCH
The array formula in cell C11 gets 3 values in one fetch, the INDEX function allows you to do that [โฆ]
The array formula in column E, shown in above picture sorts text values from column B. The Length columns prove [โฆ]
How to ignore zeros using the SMALL function
The formula in cell D3 is an array formula, it will extract the k-th smallest value ignoring zeros. Related articles
SMALL function โ multiple conditions
The array formula in D10 extracts numbers sorted from small to large from column D if Region is equal to [โฆ]
SMALL function with multiple cell ranges
Today I learned how to sort numbers from multiple cell ranges thanks to Sam Miller. It is surprisingly simple and easy. [โฆ]
How to ignore error values using the SMALL function
The image above shows you a formula in cell D3 that tries to get the smallest number from cell range [โฆ]
Functions in 'Statistical'
The SMALL function function is one of many functions in the 'Statistical' category.
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How to use the CHISQ.DIST.RT function
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How to use the CHISQ.INV function
The CHISQ.INV function was introduced in Excel 2010 and calculates the inverse of the left-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution. [โฆ]
How to use the CHISQ.INV.RT function
The CHISQ.INV.RT function was introduced in Excel 2010 and calculates the inverse of the right-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution. [โฆ]
How to use the CHISQ.TEST function
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How to use the CONFIDENCE.NORM function
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How to use the CONFIDENCE.T function
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How to use the F.DIST.RT function
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How to use the F.TEST function
The F.TEST function calculates the two-tailed probability from an F-test, the value shows if the variances from two data sets [โฆ]
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The FORECAST.LINEAR function calculates a value based on existing x and y values using linear regression. Use this function to [โฆ]
How to use the FREQUENCY function
Returns how many times values exist in a given range. Note, this function returns an array of values.
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The INTERCEPT function returns a value representing the y-value where a line intersects the y-axis. The line is calculated using [โฆ]
The LARGE function calculates the k-th largest value from an array of numbers. Use the LARGE function, for example, to extract [โฆ]
How to use the LINEST function
The LINEST function returns an array of values representing the parameters of a straight line based on the "least squares" [โฆ]
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How to use the LOGNORM.DIST function
The LOGNORMDIST function calculates the lognormal distribution of argument x, based on a normally distributed ln(x) with the arguments of mean and standard_dev. This [โฆ]
The MAX function allows you to calculate the largest number in a cell range. The formula in cell D3 extracts [โฆ]
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How to use the MEDIAN function
The MEDIAN function calculates the median based on a group of numbers. The median is the middle number of a [โฆ]
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How to use the MINIFS function
The MINIFS function calculates the smallest value based on a given set of criteria. Formula in cell E3: =MINIFS(C3:C10,B3:B10,"A") The [โฆ]
How to use the MODE.MULT function
The MODE.MULT function calculates the most frequent number in a cell range. It will return multiple numbers if they are equally [โฆ]
How to use the MODE.SNGL function
The MODE.SNGL function calculates the most frequent value in an array or cell range. Excel Function Syntax MODE.SNGL(number1,[number2],...) Arguments number1 [โฆ]
How to use the NORM.DIST function
The NORM.DIST function calculates the normal distribution for a given mean and standard deviation. Formula in cell C7: =NORM.DIST(C2,C3,C4,C5) Excel [โฆ]
How to use the NORM.INV function
The NORM.INV function calculates the inverse of the normal cumulative distribution for a given mean and standard deviation. Formula in [โฆ]
How to use the PERCENTRANK.EXC function
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How to use the PERCENTRANK.INC function
The PERCENTRANK.INC function calculates the percent rank of a given number compared to the whole data set. The image above [โฆ]
How to use the PERMUT function
The PERMUT function returns the number of permutations for a set of elements that can be selected from a larger [โฆ]
How to use the PERMUTATIONA function
The PERMUTATIONA function returns the number of permutations for a specific number of elements that can be selected from a [โฆ]
The PHI function calculates a number of the density function for a standard normal distribution. Formula in cell C3: =PHI(B3) Excel [โฆ]
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How to use the QUARTILE.EXC function
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How to use the QUARTILE.INC function
The QUARTILE.INC function returns the quartile of a data set, based on percentile values from 0..1, inclusive. Use the Quartiles.inc [โฆ]
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The RANK.EQ function calculates the rank of a number in a list of numbers, based on its position if the [โฆ]
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The SLOPE function calculates the slope of the linear regression line through coordinates. Formula in cell B10: =SLOPE(B3:B7,C3:C7) Excel Function [โฆ]
The SMALL function lets you extract a number in a cell range based on how small it is compared to the other numbers in the group.
How to use the STANDARDIZE function
The STANDARDIZE function calculates a normalized value from a distribution characterized by mean and standard_dev. Formula in cell C5: =STANDARDIZE(C2, [โฆ]
How to use the STDEV.P function
The STDEV.P function returns standard deviation based on the entire population. The standard deviation is how widely numbers are distributed [โฆ]
How to use the STDEV.S function
The STDEV.S function returns standard deviation based on a sample of the entire population. The standard deviation is how widely [โฆ]
How to use the STDEVA function
The STDEVA function estimates the standard deviation from a sample of values. Standard deviation shows how much the values differ [โฆ]
How to use the STDEVPA function
The STDEVPA function returns the standard deviation based on the entire population, including text and logical values. The standard deviation [โฆ]
The TREND function calculates values along a linear trend. Fits a straight line (using the method of least squares) to [โฆ]
How to use the TRIMMEAN function
The TRIMMEAN function calculates the mean of the interior of a data set. The function excludes a percentage of data [โฆ]
The VAR.P function returns the variance based on the entire population. The function ignores logical and text values. Variance shows [โฆ]
The VAR.S function tries to estimate the variance based on a sample of the population. The function ignores logical and [โฆ]
12 Responses to โHow to use the SMALL functionโ
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Hi Oscar,
I am in love with.. your formula explanation.. :)
Waiting eagerly for MMULT & some D-Functions..
Regards,
Deb
Debraj Roy,
Thank you!
I am curious, in what situation do you use MMULT?
Hi Oscar,
We can use MMULT in all cases where SUMPRODUCT fails..
with only Two Criteria..
* Only TWO Array can be multiplied..
* 1st Array's No Of Row.. Should be Same as 2nd Array's No Of Column..
Unlike SUMPRODUCT, It returns ARRAY output..
I think, Binary Addition & Binary Multiplication are the base of all FORMULA's & FUNCTION..
and you are doing a great job, by teaching/using them in your daily blog..
Regards!
Deb
Debraj Roy,
Well, I am learning from you right now.
Can you provide an example where SUMPRODUCT fails and MMULT succeeds?
I searched and found my old mathematics books from college, I had forgotten the basics of multiplying two matrices. :-)
It is worthwhile mentioning that in both Small and Large K could also be an array
So if A1:A10 contains random numbers the below formulas
=Large(A1:A10,{1,2,3}) - Return an array containing the top 3 numbers
=SUM(Large(A1:A10,{1,2,3}) -Array entered Returns the Sum of the top 3 numbers
=SUM(LARGE(A1:A10,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&TopN))))- Array Entered Returns the sum of the Top N numbers as defined in the Cell/Named Constant TopN
=Large(A1:A10,Row(A1:A10))- Array entered returns an array of numbers in A1:A10 in Descending order
Likewise Small
sam,
It is worthwhile mentioning that in both Small and Large K could also be an array
Yes you are right! Thanks for pointing that out.
[โฆ] SMALL(array,k) Returns the k-th smallest number in this data set. [โฆ]
=Small({VALUE(DV147),VALUE(DZ147),VALUE(ED147),VALUE(EH147)},2) will not work. If I use sum and the "Value(-----)" amounts, it works.
What am I doing wrong?
The numbers are stored as text in those cells for other reasons.
[โฆ] LARGE function extracts the n-th largest number twice for every two cells. This allows us to return both the [โฆ]
I'm using the SMALL function inside an array. I understand how to use the function to return an array where values are greater than or equal to a number. But how do I use the function if I want to return results that are between two numbers?
I've tried nesting an AND statement within the IF statement, but it isn't working (no values are returned).
Any suggestions? Thanks!
julie,
=SMALL(IF(($A$2:$A$10< $F$2)*($A$2:$A$10>$F$3),$A$2:$A$10,""),ROW(A1))
[โฆ] LARGE(array,k) returns the k-th largest row number in this data set. [โฆ]