From the combination of orbital theory with benthic δ18O it has been suggested which obliquity cycles led to interglacials during the Quaternary. Here, we use a model-based deconvolution of this benthic δ18O record to calculate northern hemispheric land ice outside of Greenland, from which an alternative distribution of glacial and interglacial periods is defined.Model output is compared with independent reconstructions of δ18O_seawater, sea level and atmospheric CO2 concentrations.All data plotted in the figures of the article:Köhler, P. & van de Wal, R. S. W. Interglacials of the Quaternary defined by northern hemispheric land ice distribution outside of Greenland, Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 5124, doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18897-5.are compiled here.