Average Calculator
Type or paste your numbers and get the mean, median and mode together with the spread of the data — or work out a weighted average for grades and prices.
- Mean, median, mode
- Standard deviation
- Weighted average
- Private
Separate values with commas, spaces or new lines — you can paste a column straight from a spreadsheet.
For grades: value = your mark, weight = credits or the percentage it counts towards the final grade.
Step by step
Details
How to calculate an average
A list of numbers is all it takes.
- 1
Enter your numbers
Type them separated by commas, spaces or new lines, or paste a column from a spreadsheet.
- 2
Read the averages
Mean, median and mode appear immediately, along with range, sum and count.
- 3
Look at the spread
Standard deviation, quartiles and other means are listed below; switch to “Weighted average” for values with weights.
More than add up and divide
The summary statistics teachers, students and analysts ask for.
Three averages
Mean, median and mode side by side, so you can see when they disagree.
Spread of the data
Sample and population standard deviation, variance, quartiles and interquartile range.
Weighted average
Give each value a weight — credits, percentages or quantities — and get the weighted mean.
Geometric and harmonic mean
The right averages for growth rates and for speeds or rates.
Steps shown
The sum, the division, the sorted list and how the median was found.
Link to your calculation
Copy a link that reopens the calculator with your numbers filled in — handy for sharing or saving a scenario.
Made for phones
Large fields, the right keyboard for numbers and a layout that fits small screens.
Private by design
Everything is calculated in your browser. Your numbers are not sent to a server.
Mean, median and mode — which average to use
The mean is what most people call the average: add all values and divide by how many there are. For 12, 15, 18, 22, 22 and 30 the sum is 119 and the mean 19.83. The median is the middle value of the sorted list — here the average of 18 and 22, which is 20. The mode is the value that occurs most often, 22.
The mean uses every value, which makes it sensitive to outliers. If five people earn 30,000 and one earns 300,000, the mean income is 75,000 although nobody earns anything close to it; the median of 30,000 describes the group far better. That is why house prices and incomes are normally reported as medians.
The standard deviation measures how far values typically lie from the mean. Use the sample version (dividing by n − 1) when your numbers are a sample of a larger group, and the population version (dividing by n) when you have every value. A weighted average multiplies each value by its weight before dividing by the total weight — exactly how course grades with different credits are combined.
Which average for which purpose
| Measure | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | Symmetrical data without extreme values | Pulled towards outliers |
| Median | Incomes, prices, skewed data | Ignores how far values are from the middle |
| Mode | Categories, sizes, most common value | There may be several or none |
| Weighted mean | Grades, prices with quantities | Weights must reflect importance |
| Geometric mean | Growth rates, returns | Only for positive values |
Tips
- Comparing two averages? The Percentage Change Calculator gives the difference in percent.
- Turn a mean into a share of a total with the Percentage Calculator.
- Need other functions on your numbers? Open the Scientific Calculator.
- Always look at the median next to the mean. A large gap between them is a sign of outliers or skewed data.
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer? Contact us — we reply quickly.
How do I calculate the average of a set of numbers?
Add all the numbers and divide the sum by how many numbers there are. For 4, 8 and 9: (4 + 8 + 9) ÷ 3 = 7.
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; with an even count it is the mean of the two middle values. The median is not affected by extreme values.
What if there is no mode?
If every value occurs equally often, the data set has no mode. If several values share the highest frequency, all of them are modes.
How do I calculate a weighted average?
Multiply each value by its weight, add the products and divide by the sum of the weights. Grades 85, 90 and 78 with weights 30, 30 and 40 give (2,550 + 2,700 + 3,120) ÷ 100 = 83.7.
Should I use the sample or the population standard deviation?
Use the sample standard deviation when your data is a sample from a larger population, which is the usual case. Use the population version only when you have data for every member of the group.
Are my numbers stored or sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Your last inputs are remembered on your own device only, so the form is still filled in when you come back; use Reset to clear them.
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