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Average calculator

Paste or type a list of numbers and see the average straight away, together with the sum, the count, the median, the mode and the smallest and largest value.

Separate the numbers with a semicolon, space or new line. Commas work as long as you don't use decimal commas.

Fill in the fields; the answer appears here straight away.

How it works

  1. Enter the values

    Type the numbers or the formula. Decimals may use a point or a comma. No idea? Click Fill in an example.

  2. Instant answer

    The answer appears as you type, with the most important intermediate values.

  3. See the working

    Under "How it's worked out" you see the steps, handy for checking your own calculation.

How the average is calculated

Add up all the numbers and divide by how many there are. For 7.5, 8, 6.5, 9 and 8: (7.5 + 8 + 6.5 + 9 + 8) ÷ 5 = 39 ÷ 5 = 7.8. This is the arithmetic mean, usually just called the average.

Entering numbers

Separate the numbers with a semicolon, a space or a new line, so you can paste a column from a spreadsheet. Commas work as separators too, as long as you don't also use decimal commas.

Average, median or mode?

The mean uses every value, so one outlier can pull it far away. The median is the middle value and isn't bothered by outliers. The mode is the value that occurs most often. For quartiles and a box plot, use the median calculator; for spread, the standard deviation calculator.

A worked example with grades

A student scores 6.5, 7, 8 and 9. The sum is 30.5 and there are 4 grades, so the average is 30.5 ÷ 4 = 7.625. Rounded to one decimal that is 7.6. For rounding rules see the rounding calculator.

Weighted average

When some numbers count for more, repeat them. An exam that counts double a test, with scores 6 and 8, gives 6, 8, 8 and an average of 22 ÷ 3 = 7.33. A plain average of 6 and 8 would give 7.

Averaging averages

The average of two averages is only right when both groups are the same size. If class A has 20 pupils with an average of 7 and class B has 30 pupils with an average of 6, the overall average is (140 + 180) ÷ 50 = 6.4, not 6.5. Add up the original numbers instead, or repeat each average as often as its group has members.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between average and mean?

In everyday use nothing: both mean the sum divided by the count. Strictly, "average" can also mean the median or the mode, which is why this page shows all three.

Can I paste numbers straight from a spreadsheet?

Yes. A column copied from Excel or Google Sheets has one number per line, and a new line counts as a separator.

Which average should I use for incomes or house prices?

The median. A few very high values pull the mean up, while the median stays with the typical case. The [median calculator](/en/math/median-calculator) also gives the quartiles.

How do I enter decimal commas?

Separate the numbers with a semicolon or a new line, for example 7,5; 8; 6,5. Commas only work as separators when you don't use decimal commas.