Excel RAND Function

If you want to follow along with this tutorial, please download the example spreadsheet.

Description

The Excel RAND function returns a random real number between 0 and 1. The result excludes 0 and 1. Every time RAND function returns a new random number when the worksheet is changed or opened.

Syntax and arguments

Formula syntax

Arguments

RAND function has no arguments.

Return Value

The RAND function returns to a real number.

Remarks

1. The RAND function calculates a new result when the worksheet is changed, if you want to stop the result changing, copy and paste the result as a value only to convert it to a static result.

2. If you want to use the random number which is returned by RAND function into other formulas, for stopping the result changed by pressing Enter key, you can use F9 key to get the result, it will change the formula result to a static value.

3. RAND function returns a real number less than 1 and greater than 0.

Version

Excel 2003

Usage and Examples

Example 1: basic usage

To get a random number between 0 and 1, please select a cell and type the formula:

=RAND()

Press Enter key to get the random number.

Example 2: get random number between two values

The RAND function also can get a random real number between two specified values.

General formula

=RAND()*(b-a)+a

b is the top one in the value range, a is the bottom one, the returned result less than b, but more than a.

To get a random number between 0 and 1, please select a cell and type the formula:

=RAND()*(10-1)+1

Press Enter key to get the random number.

Example 3: get random numbers in a selected range

If you want to get random numbers in a selected range at once time, please select a range, and type the RAND function in Formula Bar, then hold Ctrl and press Enter key.

Relative Functions:

• Excel FACT Function
  The FACT function eturns the factorial of a given number. For example, FACT(5)=120, equivalent to 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1.

• Excel FACTDOUBLE Function
  The FACTDOUBLE function returns the double factorial of a given number. For example, FACTDOUBLE(5)=15, equivalent 5 x 3 x 1.

• Excel FLOOR Function
  The FLOOR function rounds a given number down to the nearest multiple of the specified significance.

• Excel FLOOR.MATH Function
  The Excel FLOOR.MATH function rounds a given number down to the nearest integer or nearest multiple of the specified significance.