Average Calculator
Paste or type any list of numbers and this calculator instantly returns the mean (average), median, sum, count, minimum, and maximum. Values can be separated by commas, spaces, or line breaks, so you can paste a column straight from a spreadsheet.
- Mean (average)
- 18
- Median
- 15.5
- Sum
- 108
- Count
- 6
- Min / Max
- 4 / 42
The mean and the median answer subtly different questions. The mean spreads the total evenly across all values, while the median is the middle value when sorted. When a few extreme values are present (like one very high salary in a team), the median is usually the more representative summary.
How it's calculated
Mean = (sum of all values) ÷ (count of values)
The median is found by sorting the values and taking the middle one; with an even count, it is the mean of the two middle values. Minimum and maximum are simply the smallest and largest entries.
Worked example
For the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42: the sum is 108 and the count is 6, so the mean is 18. The two middle values are 15 and 16, so the median is 15.5. Notice the single large value (42) pulls the mean above the median.
Frequently asked questions
›When should I use the median instead of the mean?
Use the median when the data has outliers or is skewed, as with incomes, house prices, and response times. Use the mean when values are fairly symmetric or when the total matters, such as averaging grades.
›What is a weighted average?
An average where some values count more than others. Multiply each value by its weight, sum the results, and divide by the total weight. Course grades often work this way, with exams weighing more than homework.
›How do I average percentages?
Only average percentages directly if they refer to equally sized groups. Otherwise, weight each percentage by its group size, or you will get a misleading result.
›Does the calculator ignore text or empty entries?
Yes. Anything that is not a valid number is skipped, so stray labels or blank lines in pasted data will not break the calculation.
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