Average calculator
Paste numbers and get every common average at once.
- Mean, median and mode together
- Range and standard deviation included
- Any list length
How to calculate an average
- Paste or type your numbers, separated by commas, spaces or new lines.
- The stats update as you type.
- Read the mean, median, mode and other results.
The formulas
- Mean: sum of all values, divided by how many there are.
- Median: the middle value once sorted, or the average of the two middle values if the count is even.
- Mode: the value or values that appear most often. If nothing repeats, there is no mode.
- Range: the highest value minus the lowest.
- Standard deviation (sample): the square root of the average squared distance from the mean, dividing by the count minus 1.
Worked examples
| Dataset | Mean | Median | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 | 18 | 15.5 | None |
| 40000, 42000, 45000, 47000, 500000 | 134,800 | 45,000 | None |
| 3, 7, 7, 2, 9, 7, 4 | 5.57 | 7 | 7 |
The second row shows what one extreme value does: a single salary of 500,000 pulls the mean to 134,800, nearly 3 times the median of 45,000, which stays a better description of a typical value in that list.
Mean vs median: which to trust
The mean is the right choice for evenly spread data, like exam scores clustered around a similar range. The median holds up better when a few extreme values would otherwise drag the average away from what most of the list actually looks like, which is why median home prices and median income are reported far more often than the mean versions of those figures.
Sample vs population standard deviation
This tool always calculates sample standard deviation, dividing by the count minus 1, the standard choice when your numbers are a sample drawn from a larger group. Population standard deviation divides by the full count instead, and is used only when your list already is the entire group you care about, not a sample of it.
Average calculator FAQ
What is the difference between mean, median and mode?
The mean is the sum divided by the count. The median is the middle value when sorted. The mode is the value that appears most often.
What if no number repeats?
The mode shows "None", since every value appears exactly once and there is no most common number.
Is the standard deviation for a sample or a population?
This tool calculates sample standard deviation, dividing by count minus 1, the usual choice when your numbers are a sample rather than an entire population.
How many numbers can I paste?
There is no fixed limit. Numbers can be separated by commas, spaces, new lines or a mix of all three.
Why is the mean so different from the median in a list with one huge number?
The mean shifts toward extreme values because every number pulls on the total, while the median only looks at the middle position. A list of 4 salaries near 45,000 plus one at 500,000 has a mean of 134,800 but a median of 45,000, the better summary of a typical value there.
What if two different numbers tie for the most frequent?
The mode lists both. More than one value can be the most common in a dataset, and the tool shows every value tied for the top frequency.
Can I paste numbers straight from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Numbers separated by tabs, commas, spaces or new lines are all read correctly, so pasting a column directly from a spreadsheet works without reformatting it first.