Paste or type a list of numbers to find the mean, median and mode, along with the count, sum, range, smallest and largest values and standard deviation.
Results are estimates for planning. Check the figures before you make a financial or health decision.
How the Average, median and mode works
Enter your numbers separated by commas, spaces or new lines. The tool sorts them and works out each measure.
- Mean: the sum divided by the count.
- Median: the middle value of the sorted list. With an even count, it is the average of the two middle values.
- Mode: the value that appears most often. If every value appears once, it says there is no mode. If several tie, it lists them all.
- Range: the largest value minus the smallest.
- Standard deviation: the square root of the average squared distance from the mean. The population version divides by n, and the sample version divides by n − 1.
The results also show the count, sum, smallest and largest values. Up to 5,000 numbers are accepted, and anything that is not a number gives an error. Results are rounded for display to six decimal places.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 12, 15, 15, 18, 22, 25, 25, 25, 31 |
Mean (average): 20.888889
| Median | 22 |
|---|---|
| Mode | 25 (×3) |
| Count | 9 |
| Sum | 188 |
| Smallest | 12 |
| Largest | 31 |
Tips and common mistakes
Use the median instead of the mean when a few extreme values would distort the average, such as incomes or house prices. A big gap between the two is a sign your data is skewed.
Choose the sample standard deviation when your numbers are a sample from a larger group, and the population one when you have every value. Check the count matches what you expected, since a stray comma can drop a number. For percentages of the total, try Percentage of a number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mean and median?
The mean is the sum divided by the count. The median is the middle value when sorted, and is less affected by extreme values.
What happens if there is no mode?
If no value appears more than once, the tool says there is no mode. If several values tie, it lists all of them.
Which standard deviation should I use?
Use the sample version if your numbers are a sample from a larger group, and the population version if they are the whole group.