SMALL function: Description, Usage, Syntax, Examples and Explanation
What is SMALL function in Excel?
SMALL function is one of Statistical functions in Microsoft Excel that returns the k-th smallest value in a data set. Use this function to return values with a particular relative standing in a data set.
Syntax of SMALL function
SMALL(array, k)
The SMALL function syntax has the following arguments:
- Array: An array or range of numerical data for which you want to determine the k-th smallest value.
- K: The position (from the smallest) in the array or range of data to return.
Explanation of SMALL function
- If array is empty, SMALL returns the #NUM! error value.
- If k ≤ 0 or if k exceeds the number of data points, SMALL returns the #NUM! error value.
- If n is the number of data points in array, SMALL(array,1) equals the smallest value, and SMALL(array,n) equals the largest value.
Example of SMALL function
Steps to follow:
1. Open a new Excel worksheet.
2. Copy data in the following table below and paste it in cell A1
Note: For formulas to show results, select them, press F2 key on your keyboard and then press Enter.
You can adjust the column widths to see all the data, if need be.
| Data 1 | Data 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | |
| 4 | 4 | |
| 5 | 8 | |
| 2 | 3 | |
| 3 | 7 | |
| 4 | 12 | |
| 6 | 54 | |
| 4 | 8 | |
| 7 | 23 | |
| Formula | Description (Result) | Result |
| =SMALL(A2:A10,4) | 4th smallest number in first column (4) | 4 |
| =SMALL(B2:B10,2) | 2nd smallest number in the second column (3) | 3 |