Average Calculator

Calculate mean, median, mode, and range of numbers

Method and source check

Last checked: Jul 31, 2026

Source and implementation check; this is not professional review or advice.

Method

The calculator validates a list of finite numbers, then computes the arithmetic mean, median, mode, range, sum, and count. The median and mode are computed from the sorted values.

x̄ = Σxᵢ / n

range = maximum − minimum

Variables and units

xᵢ: each value in the data set
n: number of values
x̄: arithmetic mean

Worked example

For 2, 4, 4, and 10: the sum is 20, n is 4, the mean is 5, the median is 4, the mode is 4, and the range is 8.

Limitations

The mean can be strongly affected by outliers. For skewed data, compare the mean with the median instead of treating either value as automatically representative.

Sources

Measures of Location — National Institute of Standards and Technology(opens in a new tab)

Table of Contents

How to Use

Enter your numbers separated by spaces, commas, or line breaks
Click calculate to see all statistics
View mean, median, mode, range, sum, and count
Use the sorted list for reference

What is an Average?

An average is a single number that represents the central or typical value in a set of data. There are different types of averages, each useful in different situations.

The most common types are mean, median, and mode, collectively known as measures of central tendency.

Types of Averages

Mean (Arithmetic Average)

Definition: The sum of all numbers divided by the count of numbers.

Formula: Mean = (Sum of all values) ÷ (Number of values)

Example: Mean of 2, 4, 6, 8 = (2+4+6+8) ÷ 4 = 20 ÷ 4 = 5

Median

Definition: The middle value when numbers are arranged in order.

How to find: Sort the numbers. If odd count, take the middle number. If even count, average the two middle numbers.

Example: Median of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 = 5 (middle value)

Mode

Definition: The number(s) that appear most frequently.

Note: A dataset can have no mode (all values appear once), one mode (unimodal), or multiple modes (bimodal, multimodal).

Example: Mode of 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5 = 4 (appears most often)

When to Use Each Type

Use Mean when: Data is evenly distributed without extreme outliers (e.g., test scores, heights)
Use Median when: Data has outliers or is skewed (e.g., house prices, incomes)
Use Mode when: Looking for the most common value (e.g., shoe sizes, favorite colors)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between mean and median?: Mean is the sum divided by count, while median is the middle value. Median is less affected by extreme values (outliers), making it better for skewed data like income or house prices.
Can a dataset have more than one mode?: Yes. If two values appear most frequently, it's bimodal. If three or more values tie for most frequent, it's multimodal. If all values appear once, there's no mode.
What is range and why is it useful?: Range is the difference between the highest and lowest values. It gives a quick sense of how spread out the data is, though it's sensitive to outliers.
How do I calculate the average of percentages?: For simple percentages, calculate the mean as usual. However, if percentages represent different sample sizes, you may need a weighted average instead.

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