What is a percentile?
A percentile indicates the value below which a given percentage of observations in a data set falls. If your test score is at the 90th percentile, you scored higher than 90 % of the people who took the same test. Percentiles are widely used in standardized testing, growth charts, network latency monitoring, and salary benchmarking because they convey relative standing in a way that is easy to understand.
How this calculator works
Enter your numbers separated by commas or spaces and type the desired percentile (0–100). The calculator sorts the data and uses linear interpolation to find the exact value at that percentile. Quick-pick buttons for common percentiles—P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, P95, P99—save you from typing. The result card shows the percentile value, rank, mean, min, max, range, and the sorted list so you can verify every step.
Percentile vs percentile rank
The percentile value answers "what data value sits at this percentile?" while the percentile rank answers "what percentage of data is at or below this value?" This tool solves the first question. For example, if you have exam scores of 55, 70, 80, 90, and 95 and you request P75, the calculator returns the score at the 75th percentile. The two concepts are complementary and together describe exactly where a value falls within a distribution.
Common uses
Healthcare professionals track infant weight and height at specific percentiles using growth charts. Software engineers monitor P50, P90, and P99 response times to ensure service reliability. Hiring managers compare salary offers to market percentiles. Educators set grading curves based on score distributions. In each case, percentiles translate raw numbers into meaningful context.
Tips
The more data points you provide, the more precise the percentile estimate. For very small data sets the interpolation may not reflect the true distribution accurately. This free calculator runs entirely in your browser—no sign-up, no download, and instant results on any device. Bookmark this page for quick access whenever you need percentile calculations.