DVAR Function in Excel
Master the DVAR function to calculate variance from database records matching criteria. Learn syntax, examples, and error solutions for data analysis.
Excel
Google SheetsExcelGoogle Sheets=DVAR(database, field, criteria)Quick Answer
DVAR function DVAR function calculates the sample variance of values in a database field that match specified criteria. Use syntax `=DVAR(database, field, criteria)` where database is your data table with headers, field is the column to analyze, and criteria specifies which records to include. Perfect for statistical analysis of filtered data subsets.
=DVAR(database, field, criteria)Practical Examples
Basic Sales Variance by Region
Calculate the variance of sales amounts for a specific region
Product Performance Variance Analysis
Calculate variance in product sales for a specific quarter
Quality Control Variance Measurement
Calculate variance in measurements for products above specification
Financial Budget Variance with Error Handling
Calculate department expense variance with graceful error handling
Advanced Multi-Criteria Analysis
Calculate sales variance for complex filtering conditions across multiple sheets
Common Errors and Solutions
DVAR returns #VALUE! error
This occurs when: (1) The field parameter doesn't match any column header in the database, (2) The criteria range headers don't match database headers, (3) Field name has typos or incorrect capitalization, or (4) Column number exceeds the number of columns in the database range.
1. Verify the field name exactly matches a column header in the database (case-sensitive) 2. If using a column number, ensure it's within the valid range (1 to number of columns) 3. Check that criteria range headers exactly match database headers 4. Remove any extra spaces in header names using TRIM() if necessary 5. Use direct cell references like A1 instead of typing header names when possible
Always use data validation or dropdown lists for field selection to prevent typos. Use named ranges for database and criteria to improve formula clarity and reduce errors.
Example:
DVAR returns #DIV/0! error
This error occurs when the criteria matches fewer than 2 records. Variance calculation requires at least 2 data points because the formula divides by (n-1) where n is the number of matching records. With 0 or 1 matching records, the denominator becomes 0 or negative.
1. Review your criteria to ensure it's not too restrictive 2. Verify that the criteria range is properly formatted with headers and conditions 3. Check that data exists in the database that matches your criteria 4. Use IFERROR to provide a fallback value: =IFERROR(DVAR(...), 'Insufficient Data') 5. Consider using DCOUNT to verify how many records match before calculating variance 6. Adjust criteria to be less restrictive if appropriate for your analysis
Always wrap DVAR in IFERROR for production use. Use DCOUNT with the same criteria to validate sufficient matching records exist: =IF(DCOUNT(database,field,criteria)>=2, DVAR(...), 'Need 2+ records')
Example:
DVAR returns #NUM! error
This error typically occurs when the field specified contains non-numeric data or a mix of numbers and text. DVAR requires the field column to contain only numeric values for variance calculation. It can also occur if all matching values are identical (resulting in zero variance but sometimes triggering errors in edge cases).
1. Verify that the field column contains only numeric values 2. Check for text entries that look like numbers (numbers stored as text) 3. Use VALUE() function or multiply by 1 to convert text numbers to actual numbers 4. Remove or handle any non-numeric entries in the field column 5. Consider using data validation to prevent text entry in numeric columns 6. Use ISNUMBER() to identify and filter out non-numeric values before analysis
Implement data validation rules on input columns to accept only numeric values. Use conditional formatting to highlight non-numeric entries. Regularly audit data for text-formatted numbers using =TYPE() function or Excel's error checking features.
Example:
Best Practices and Advanced Tips
DVAR vs DVARP: Choose the Right Function
DVAR calculates sample variance (divides by n-1) while DVARP calculates population variance (divides by n). Use DVAR when your filtered data represents a sample from a larger population. Use DVARP when your criteria captures the entire population you want to analyze. For most business scenarios analyzing subsets of data, DVAR is the correct choice. Example: // Sample variance (use when data is a subset) =DVAR(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) // Analyzing Q1 sales as a sample // Population variance (use when data is complete) =DVARP(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) // Analyzing ALL company sales
Combine with DCOUNT for Validation
Before calculating variance, use DCOUNT with identical criteria to verify you have sufficient matching records. This prevents errors and provides better user feedback. A variance calculation needs at least 2 data points to be meaningful, but you might want to require more (e.g., 10+) for statistical significance. Example: // Validation approach =IF(DCOUNT(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2)>=10, DVAR(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2), "Need at least 10 records for reliable variance") // Display record count alongside variance ="Variance: " & DVAR(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) & " (n=" & DCOUNT(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) & ")"
Use Named Ranges for Clarity
Define named ranges for your database, criteria, and field references to make formulas more readable and maintainable. This is especially valuable in complex workbooks where DVAR is used across multiple sheets or in combination with other database functions. Example: // Define named ranges: // SalesDatabase = A1:D100 // RegionCriteria = F1:F2 // SalesField = "Sales" // Then use clean formula: =DVAR(SalesDatabase, SalesField, RegionCriteria) // Instead of: =DVAR(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2)
Database Range Must Include Headers
The database range must always include the header row as its first row. DVAR uses these headers to match the field parameter and criteria headers. A common mistake is starting the database range at row 2, which causes #VALUE! errors because the function can't identify field names. Example: // WRONG: starting at data row =DVAR(A2:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) // Error: no headers in range // CORRECT: include header row =DVAR(A1:D100, "Sales", F1:F2) // Success: A1 contains headers
Wildcard and Comparison Operators in Criteria
The criteria range supports wildcards (* and ?) for text matching and comparison operators (>, <, >=, <=, <>) for numeric filtering. This allows powerful filtering without complex formulas. Use * to match any sequence of characters and ? to match any single character. Example: // Wildcard matching for products starting with 'Widget' Criteria range: [Product] [Widget*] // Comparison operators for sales above threshold Criteria range: [Sales] [>50000] // Combining multiple criteria (AND logic) Criteria range: [Region] [Product] [Sales] [West] [Widget*] [>50000] // Multiple rows for OR logic Criteria range: [Region] [West] [East]
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Example Excel formula:
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