The RANK.EQ function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool designed to determine the ranking of a specific value within a given dataset. It is particularly useful for analyzing competition, performance metrics, and any other scenario where ranking is essential. By taking into account duplicate values, RANK.EQ provides the top rank for entries that share the same value, making it an intuitive choice for identifying leaders within data sets.

Syntax

RANK.EQ(value, data, [order])

• value: This is the number you want to rank within the dataset.
• data: This defines the range or array containing the dataset.
• order: An optional parameter; if set to 0 or omitted, the ranking is in descending order, while setting it to any non-zero value will rank in ascending order.

Example #1

RANK.EQ(85, A1:A10)

This function determines the rank of the value ’85’ within the range A1:A10. Assuming the values in A1:A10 are {73, 85, 85, 92, 78, 88, 76, 80, 89, 91}, the result would be ‘3’, as ’85’ is tied for the third highest value in this dataset.

Example #2

RANK.EQ(75, B1:B10, 1)

This function ranks the value ’75’ within the range B1:B10 in ascending order. If the values in B1:B10 are {50, 60, 70, 75, 75, 80, 90, 100}, the result will be ‘4’, indicating that ’75’ is the fourth lowest value.

Example #3

RANK.EQ(95, C1:C5)

This ranks the value ’95’ in the range C1:C5. If C1:C5 contains the values {95, 100, 90, 85, 80}, the function would return ‘1’, showing that ’95’ has the highest rank.

Error handling

• N/A: This error occurs if the specified value is not found in the dataset.
• VALUE!: This error indicates that the value or dataset provided has an incorrect data type.
• REF!: This error appears when the dataset reference is invalid.

Conclusion

The RANK.EQ function is a valuable asset for anyone needing to analyze data in Google Sheets. By providing a straightforward way to determine the rank of values, it helps streamline data evaluation and supports flexible decision-making based on ranking criteria. Its ability to handle duplicate values effectively and to rank in either ascending or descending order makes it versatile for various applications.