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Reference table

Sample Size Table: Required sample size by Margin of error

Reference table of required sample size for Sample Size across a range of margin of error values — exact, engine-computed figures you can read off at a glance.

By Vikram Iyer, M.Sc Mathematics · Updated Jun 2026 · 1 min read

This sample size reference table shows the required sample size for a range of margin of error values, assuming a proportion of 0.5 and a confidence level of 95% (z = 1.96). Every figure is computed with the same engine that powers our Sample Size Calculator, so the numbers are exact.

Margin of errorRequired sample size
1.3%5,683
2.5%1,537
3.8%666
5%385
7.5%171
1%97
15%43
25%16
35%8
5%4

How to use this table

Find the row closest to your margin of error and read across to the required sample size. For a value between two rows, the real figure sits between them — or enter your exact numbers in the Sample Size Calculator for a precise answer.

Need a value that is not in the table? — the Sample Size Calculator does it instantly, for free, with the formula and a worked example built in.

Continue exploring math calculators with these tools: Margin of Error Calculator, Confidence Interval Calculator, Coefficient of Variation Calculator, Regular Heptagon Area Calculator, Odds to Probability Calculator.

Calculators in this guide

Frequently asked questions

Each cell is computed with the standard formula using exact arithmetic — the same calculation behind our Sample Size Calculator — so every figure is accurate for the stated assumptions.

Yes. The table covers common margin of error values; for any exact figure, enter your own numbers in the Sample Size Calculator.

Vikram Iyer · M.Sc Mathematics

Vikram Iyer is a mathematics educator with over fifteen years of teaching experience, specialising in making quantitative concepts clear and practical for everyday use.