Average
Calculate mean, median, mode, and other averages
How to use Average
- 1Enter the numbers line by line or comma separated; add or remove any time.
- 2The tool ignores blank cells and flags obvious outliers (you can keep them if needed).
- 3Read the arithmetic mean, the sum and the count, and toggle to see the median.
How is the average calculated?
mean = (x₁ + x₂ + … + xₙ) ÷ nThe arithmetic mean adds up a set of values and divides by how many there are. It is a simple, intuitive measure of the 'centre' of the data, but it is very sensitive to extremes — a single very large or very small value can pull the mean noticeably up or down.
When a distribution is skewed or contains outliers, the median usually describes the typical value better than the mean. For example, a few very high incomes pull the average income up so most people appear 'below average'. Check both mean and median together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mean and median?
The mean is the sum divided by the count; the median is the middle value after sorting. They diverge a lot in skewed data, and the median resists extreme values.
Do empty cells affect the result?
No. Blank cells and unrecognised text are ignored; only valid numbers are used.
Can it do a weighted average?
This tool computes the simple arithmetic mean. If each item has a different weight (e.g. exam weights), use a weighted average calculator.