Quick Answer

RANK.EQ Function

Ranks a value in a list; ties share a rank and the next rank is skipped.

Syntax

RANK.EQ

(number, ref, [order])

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
number	The value whose rank you want to find.	Required
ref	The list (range or array) of numbers to rank against.	Required
order	Optional. 0 or omitted = descending (largest = rank 1); any nonzero value = ascending (smallest = rank 1).	Optional

Basic Example

Rank of 20 when it appears twice

=RANK.EQ(20, {10,20,20,30})

Result2

The two 20s are the 2nd and 3rd largest, so both receive rank 2.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Ties skip the next rank

Ranking the largest value after a tie

Because two values share rank 2, the following distinct value jumps to rank 4.

=RANK.EQ(30, {10,20,20,30})

Result: 4

Both 20s are rank 2, so 30 becomes rank 4, skipping rank 3.

Example 2: Ascending ranking with a tie

Smallest-first ordering

With order = 1 the smallest value is rank 1 and ties still share a rank.

=RANK.EQ(20, {10,20,20,30}, 1)

Result: 2

In ascending order 10=1, then the two 20s share rank 2.

How RANK.EQ Works

RANK.EQ compares a value to the numbers in the reference. By default (order 0) the largest value gets rank 1; order 1 ranks smallest to largest. Equal values are given the same rank, and the following rank is incremented past the tie (so two values at rank 2 leave the next value at rank 4). It is functionally identical to the legacy RANK and returns #N/A if the value is not found.

1

Select the result cell

Click where you want the rank.

2

Enter the formula

Type =RANK.EQ(number, range, [order]).

3

Press Enter

The rank appears.

Important Notes & Limitations

Ties share a rank and subsequent ranks are skipped, which can distort rank-based statistics.
Cannot produce averaged ranks for ties; use RANK.AVG for that.
Only ranks against numbers; text in the reference is ignored.

Common Errors & Fixes

#N/A errorThe number is not present in the reference list.

Fix: Confirm the value exists in the range you are ranking against.

Ranking seems off by directionOmitting order defaults to descending.

Fix: Pass 1 as the third argument to rank ascending.

Download Practice File

Practice RANK.EQ with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the RANK.EQ function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Related Functions

AVERAGE

Calculates the mean of the provided numbers.

AVERAGEIF

Averages values that satisfy one condition.

AVERAGEIFS

Averages values that meet all of the specified conditions.

CORREL

Pearson correlation coefficient between two arrays.

COUNT

COUNT returns the count of cells containing numbers in a range.

COUNTA

COUNTA returns the count of all non-empty cells in a range, including text, numbers, and logical values.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RANK.EQ the same as RANK?

Yes. RANK.EQ is the name introduced in Excel 2010; RANK is preserved for compatibility and behaves the same.

How is it different from RANK.AVG?

RANK.AVG gives tied values their average rank (e.g. 2.5), while RANK.EQ gives both the same whole rank and skips the next.

Why does the next rank get skipped?

Because two values occupy the same rank, the sequence continues after the tie, so the next distinct value is ranked one higher than the tie count.