How do I use this calculator?
Paste or type your values into the box above, separating them with new lines, commas or tabs – it doesn't matter which, the calculator will figure it out. As soon as you stop typing, every statistic below updates automatically, so there's no button to press.
Once you've got a result, use 'Copy results' to grab a summary of every statistic in one go, ready to paste into a spreadsheet, email or report. 'Clear' wipes the box and resets everything back to zero.
How do I calculate the average of a list of numbers?
Add the numbers together, then divide by how many numbers there are. This gives the mean. For example, for 4, 8, 15, 16 and 23: 4 + 8 + 15 + 16 + 23 = 66, and 66 ÷ 5 = 13.2. The median is 15 (the middle value). There is no mode, because no value repeats. The range is 19 (23 minus 4).
What's the difference between mean, median and mode?
The mean (often just called the average) is the sum of all your values divided by how many there are. The median is the middle value once everything is sorted from smallest to largest – it's less affected by extreme outliers than the mean. The mode is whichever value appears most often; if every value is unique, there's no mode.
What does range tell me?
Range is simply the difference between your largest and smallest value. It's a quick way to see how spread out your data is – a small range means your values are clustered together, while a large one means there's a lot of variation.
What can this calculator be used for?
- Working out a class or exam average from a list of grades
- Finding the typical value in a set of survey or test results
- Spotting outliers by comparing the mean against the median
- Summarising sports statistics, prices or measurements
Which average should I use?
Use the mean when your values are spread fairly evenly. Use the median when a few very high or very low values would pull the mean away from the typical value, such as house prices or salaries. Use the mode for the most common value, such as the most popular shoe size.
Does it matter how I separate my values?
No – you can paste values from a spreadsheet column (one per line), a comma-separated list, or a tab-separated row, and the calculator handles all of them the same way. Extra spaces and blank lines are ignored.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. All the maths happens in your browser, so the values you enter never leave your device.
What if I only need one or two figures, not the full spread?
For simple sums, discounts or growth comparisons rather than a full statistical breakdown, the percentage calculator or plain calculator might be quicker.