Average Calculator
Mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation. e.g. “What is the average of a set of numbers?”
Enter your values
Results update as you type. All calculation happens in your browser.
Methodology
Mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation. This tool uses a standard, documented formula and runs entirely on your device.
Last reviewed January 2026 · Runs client-side
Mean, median, and mode, and when each matters
"Average" usually means the mean, but the mean is only one way to describe the centre of a set of numbers. The median, the middle value, and the mode, the most frequent value, can each tell a truer story depending on the data.
The mean is sensitive to outliers: a single very large or very small value can pull it away from where most of the data sits. When that happens, the median often describes the typical value better. Seeing all three together, alongside the range and standard deviation, gives a fuller picture than any one number.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your numbers, separated by commas or spaces.
- Read the mean as the headline figure.
- Compare it against the median, mode, range, and standard deviation.
What the inputs mean
- Numbers
- Any list of values, comma- or space-separated.
For 12, 15, 15, 18, 22, 30 the mean is about 18.67, the median is 16.5, and the mode is 15, the gap between mean and median hints at the pull of the larger values.
The formula, in plain terms
Mean = sum of values ÷ count. The median is the middle value once sorted; the mode is the most frequent.
Good to know
- If mean and median differ a lot, your data is likely skewed, report the median.
- Standard deviation tells you how spread out the values are around the mean.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use the median instead of the mean?
Use the median when the data is skewed or has outliers, incomes and house prices are classic cases where the median is more representative.
Last reviewed January 2026. This explainer is general information, not professional advice.