Excel SKEW Function

The SKEW function returns the skewness of a distribution of a set of values. Skewness is a quantitative measure of the asymmetry of a distribution around its mean.

A positive skewness indicates a distribution with a tail extended towards the right. And a negative skewness indicates a distribution with a tail extended towards the left.

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Syntax

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

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Arguments

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Return value

The SKEW function returns a numeric value.

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Function notes

1. Arguments in the SKEW function can be supplied as numbers or names, arrays, or references that contain numbers. Up to 255 arguments are allowed.
2. SKEW function can count the Logical values and text representations of numbers (numbers enclosed with quotation marks, says “10”) that you type directly into the list of arguments.
3. SKEW function ignores empty cells or cells that contain text or logical values.
4. Cells with zero values will be included in the calculation.
5. The #DIV/0! error value occurs if:
   • less than three data values are supplied.
   • the sample standard deviation of the supplied data values is zero (0).
6. The #VALUE! error value occurs if any of the supplied arguments you typed directly in the function are text strings that cannot be interpreted as numbers by Excel.
7. If the skewness equals zero (0), it indicates a perfectly symmetric distribution.
8. Examples of distributions of positive and negative skewness are shown in the charts below:
9. Both the SKEW function and SKEW.P function can return the skewness of a distribution. The only difference between the two is that the SKEW function measures the skewness of a sample while the SKEW.P function measures the skewness of a population.

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Examples

To calculate the skewness of two distributions of the numbers in Data A and Data B provided in the below table, please copy the two formulas below into cells F4 and J4 respectively, then press the Enter key to get the results.

=SKEW(B5:B19)

=SKEW(C5:C19)

Notes:

1. The argument in each of the above formulas is supplied as a range that contains multiple values.
2. We can also directly input values or use cell references as arguments of the formula. But it is not recommended when we need to input many data values in the formula.

Relative Functions:

• Excel EVEN Function
  The EVEN function rounds numbers away from zero to the nearest even integer.

• Excel EXP Function
  The EXP function returns the result of the constant e raised to the nth power.