Last updated: March 2, 2026 by Maria Gonzalez

Interquartile Range (IQR) Explained

Formula

The interquartile range (IQR) is a measure of statistical dispersion representing the range of the middle 50% of data. It is calculated as Q3 minus Q1 and is resistant to outliers, unlike the full range.

IQR is used to construct box plots and to identify outliers. Values below Q1 - 1.5*IQR or above Q3 + 1.5*IQR are commonly flagged as potential outliers.

Common use cases:

  • Identifying outliers in datasets
  • Box plot construction
  • Robust dispersion measurement

Frequently Asked Questions

MG

Maria Gonzalez

Registered Dietitian, RD, MPH

Maria is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's in Public Health. She focuses on evidence-based nutrition assessment tools including BMI, calorie calculations, and body composition analysis.

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