---
title: "Delete Statistics | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/14/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: performance
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "statistics [SQL Server], deleting"
  - "deleting statistics"
ms.assetid: eccce0aa-591e-4a1d-bd10-373b022f8749
author: julieMSFT
ms.author: jrasnick
monikerRange: ">=aps-pdw-2016||=azuresqldb-current||=azure-sqldw-latest||>=sql-server-2016||=sqlallproducts-allversions||>=sql-server-linux-2017||=azuresqldb-mi-current"
---
# Delete Statistics
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md.md)]
  You can delete (drop) statistics from tables and views in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] by using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)]  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **Before you begin:**  
  
     [Limitations and Restrictions](#Restrictions)  
  
     [Security](#Security)  
  
-   **To drop statistics from a table or view, using:**  
  
     [SQL Server Management Studio](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
     [Transact-SQL](#TsqlProcedure)  
  
##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
  
-   Be careful when you drop statistics. Doing so may affect the execution plan chosen by the query optimizer.  
  
-   Statistics on indexes cannot be dropped by using DROP STATISTICS. Statistics remain as long as the index exists.  
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  
 Requires ALTER permission on the table or view.  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
  
#### To drop statistics from a table or view  
  
1.  In **Object Explorer**, click the plus sign to expand the database in which you want to delete a statistic.  
  
2.  Click the plus sign to expand the **Tables** folder.  
  
3.  Click the plus sign to expand the table in which you want to delete a statistic.  
  
4.  Click the plus sign to expand the **Statistics** folder.  
  
5.  Right-click the statistics object that you want to delete and select **Delete**.  
  
6.  In the **Delete Object** dialog box, ensure that the correct statistic has been selected and click **OK**.  

##  <a name="TsqlProcedure"></a> Using Transact-SQL  
  
#### To drop statistics from a table or view  
  
1.  In **Object Explorer**, connect to an instance of [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
2.  On the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
3.  Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click **Execute**.  
  
    ```  
    USE AdventureWorks2012;  
    GO  
    -- First, create two statistics named VendorCredit and CustomerTotal  
    -- The first statistic uses a random 50% sample of information provided from the Name and CreditRating columns in the Purchasing.Vendor table.  
    CREATE STATISTICS VendorCredit  
        ON Purchasing.Vendor (Name, CreditRating)  
        WITH SAMPLE 50 PERCENT  
    -- The second statistic uses all of the information from the CustomerID and TotalDue columns in the Sales.SalesOrderHeader table  
    CREATE STATISTICS CustomerTotal  
        ON Sales.SalesOrderHeader (CustomerID, TotalDue)  
        WITH FULLSCAN;  
    GO  
    -- This next statement drops both of the statistics created above. Note that the naming convention is [table_name].[statistics_name].  
    DROP STATISTICS Purchasing.Vendor.VendorCredit, Sales.SalesOrderHeader.CustomerTotal;  
    GO  
    ```  
  
 For more information, see [DROP STATISTICS &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/statements/drop-statistics-transact-sql.md).