Average Calculator
Find the mean, median, mode, range, sum, minimum and maximum of any list of numbers. Paste your numbers and the results appear instantly.
How to use the Average Calculator
- Type or paste your numbers into the box. Separate them with commas, spaces or line breaks, so you can paste a column straight from a spreadsheet.
- The count, sum, mean, median, mode, range, minimum and maximum update as you type.
- Anything that is not a number is ignored, and the calculator tells you how many entries it skipped.
Mean, median, mode and range explained
| Measure | What it is | How to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Mean (average) | The balance point of the data | Add all numbers, then divide by how many there are |
| Median | The middle value | Sort the numbers and take the middle one. With an even count, average the two middle numbers |
| Mode | The most common value | Find the number that appears most often. There may be none, or more than one |
| Range | How spread out the data is | Subtract the smallest number from the largest |
Worked examples
Example 1: for 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 the sum is 108, so the mean is 108 ÷ 6 = 18. There are six numbers, so the median is the average of the two middle values: (15 + 16) ÷ 2 = 15.5. No number repeats, so there is no mode, and the range is 42 − 4 = 38.
Example 2: for 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 7, 9 the sum is 32, so the mean is about 4.57. The middle value is the median, 3. The number 3 appears most often, so the mode is 3, and the range is 9 − 2 = 7.
Mean or median: which should you use?
The mean uses every value, so a single extreme number can pull it up or down. The median is not affected by extreme values, so it describes a typical value better when the data is skewed. For example, a few very high salaries raise the mean salary of a group far more than the median. When the numbers are fairly even, the mean and median will be close together.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the average of a list of numbers?
Add all the numbers together and divide the total by how many numbers there are. For 10, 20 and 30 the sum is 60 and the average is 60 ÷ 3 = 20.
What is the difference between mean and median?
The mean is the sum divided by the count. The median is the middle value when the numbers are sorted. They differ when the data contains very large or very small values.
What if my list has no mode?
If every number appears only once, there is no mode and the calculator shows "No mode". If several numbers tie for most frequent, all of them are shown.
Are letters and symbols ignored?
Yes. Only valid numbers are counted, and the calculator shows how many entries it skipped. Use a dot for decimals, such as 3.5.
Is the Average Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and everything runs in your browser, so your numbers are never uploaded or stored.