Average Calculator
Enter your data set to instantly calculate the Mean, Median, Mode, Range, and Total Sum.
Understanding Averages
In statistics, an "average" can refer to several different measures of central tendency. The most common are mean, median, and mode.
The Mean (Arithmetic Average)
The mean is what most people think of when they say "average." It is calculated by adding all the numbers in a set together and then dividing by the count of those numbers.
Sum = 15
Count = 5
Mean = 15 / 5 = 3
The Median
The median is the middle number in a sorted list of numbers. Half the numbers are greater than the median, and half are less.
Median = 6 (the middle number)
Example Even Set: 6
Median = (3 + 4) / 2 = 3.5 (average of two middle numbers)
The Mode
The mode is the number that appears most frequently in a data set. A set can have one mode, more than one mode (multimodal), or no mode at all.
The Range
The range is the difference between the lowest and highest values in the set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which average should I use?
Use the mean for normal data without outliers. Use the median if your data has extreme values (outliers) that would skew the mean (like housing prices). Use the mode for categorical data or to find the most popular value.