RANK Function
Detailed Process Flow to Use the RANK Function in Excel
📌 Purpose:
The RANK function assigns a rank to a number within a
list, indicating its position relative to other values (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
etc.).
1️⃣ Identify the Number to Rank
- Locate
the cell that contains the value you want to rank.
- Example:
Cell B3 contains 95% for Singh Bisht.
2️⃣ Select the Destination Cell
for the Rank
- Choose
the cell where the rank will be displayed.
- Example:
Select cell C3.
3️⃣ Enter the RANK Formula
In cell C3, type: =RANK(B3, $B$3:$B$16)
📌 Explanation:
- B3:
The value to rank.
- $B$3:$B$16:
The full range of values to rank against.
- The absolute
reference (using $) ensures that the range stays fixed when the
formula is copied down.
4️⃣ Press Enter
- Hit Enter
to apply the formula.
- Excel
returns the rank of the value in B3 within the range.
- Example:
If 95% is the highest, it returns 1.
5️⃣ Apply the Formula to Other
Rows
To rank all values in the list:
- Click
on the cell containing the formula (e.g., C3).
- Move
your cursor to the bottom-right corner of the cell (the small
square – fill handle).
- When
the cursor turns into a black plus sign (+), click and drag down
to fill cells C4:C16.
- Excel
automatically updates the formula to reference B4, B5, etc., while keeping
the range $B$3:$B$16 constant.
🧠Understanding the RANK
Function Arguments
=RANK(number, ref, [order])
- number:
The value to rank (e.g., B3).
- ref:
The list of values (e.g., $B$3:$B$16).
- [order]
(optional):
- 0 or
omitted → Descending (highest number = rank 1).
- 1 or
any non-zero → Ascending (lowest number = rank 1).
✅ Key Tips
- RANK
ignores non-numeric values in the list.
- Use RANK.EQ
or RANK.AVG in newer Excel versions for more options:
- RANK.EQ:
Returns the rank of a number (same as RANK).
- RANK.AVG:
Returns the average rank if there are ties.
The RANK function in Excel is a powerful tool for ranking numbers dynamically. It is widely used in performance evaluation, student ranking, and sales analysis. 🚀