Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel for the web Excel 2024 Excel 2024 for Mac Excel 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Excel 2019 Excel 2016

Returns the most frequently occurring, or repetitive, value in an array or range of data.

Syntax

MODE.SNGL(number1,[number2],...)

The MODE.SNGL function syntax has the following arguments:

  • Number1     Required. The first argument for which you want to calculate the mode.

  • Number2, ...     Optional. Arguments 2 to 254 for which you want to calculate the mode. You can also use a single array or a reference to an array instead of arguments separated by commas.

Remarks

  • Arguments can either be numbers or names, arrays, or references that contain numbers.

  • If an array or reference argument contains text, logical values, or empty cells, those values are ignored; however, cells with the value zero are included.

  • Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be translated into numbers cause errors.

  • If the data set contains no duplicate data points, MODE.SNGL returns the #N/A error value.

Note: The MODE.SNGL function measures central tendency, which is the location of the center of a group of numbers in a statistical distribution. The three most common measures of central tendency are:

  • Average     which is the arithmetic mean, and is calculated by adding a group of numbers and then dividing by the count of those numbers. For example, the average of 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 30 divided by 6, which is 5.

  • Median     which is the middle number of a group of numbers; that is, half the numbers have values that are greater than the median, and half the numbers have values that are less than the median. For example, the median of 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 4.

  • Mode     which is the most frequently occurring number in a group of numbers. For example, the mode of 2, 3, 3, 5, 7, and 10 is 3.

For a symmetrical distribution of a group of numbers, these three measures of central tendency are all the same. For a skewed distribution of a group of numbers, they can be different.

Example

Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.

Data

5.6

4

4

3

2

4

Formula

Description

Result

=MODE.SNGL(A2:A7)

Mode, or most frequently occurring number above

4

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.