How do I calculate the average of a set of numbers?

Add them all up and divide by how many there are. For 4, 8 and 12: 24 ÷ 3 = 8.

What is the difference between mean, median and mode?

The mean is the sum divided by the count, the median is the middle value and the mode is the most frequent value.

When should I use the median instead of the mean?

When a few very large or very small values would distort the mean, as with incomes, house prices or response times.

Can a list have more than one mode?

Yes. If two values tie for most frequent, both are modes. If all values appear once, there is no mode.

Average Calculator

Mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation for any list of numbers.

Updated September 19, 2026Checked by the editorial team

Numbers

Separate numbers with commas, spaces or new lines.

Mean (average)

18.666667

Median: 16.5
Mode: 15
Count: 6
Sum: 112
Minimum / maximum: 12 / 30
Range: 18
Standard deviation (population): 5.9348
Standard deviation (sample): 6.5013

Mean = 112 ÷ 6 = 18.666667

Paste or type a list of numbers and this calculator returns the mean, median, mode, range, sum, count and standard deviation in one go. Separate numbers with commas, spaces or new lines.

“Average” usually means the mean, but the median and mode can tell a different and sometimes more honest story. The results panel shows all three side by side.

How average calculator works

The mean adds every value and divides by how many there are. The median sorts the values and takes the middle one, or the average of the two middle ones when the count is even. The mode is the value that appears most often. If every value is unique there is no mode.

Standard deviation measures spread. Population standard deviation is for when your list is the whole group, and sample standard deviation is for when it is a sample from a larger group.

The formula

Mean  =  sum of values ÷ number of values
Median  =  middle value of the sorted list
Range  =  largest − smallest

Worked example: seven test scores

Scores: 72, 85, 90, 85, 68, 94, 85.

Sum is 579 and there are 7 scores, so the mean is 82.71.

Sorted: 68, 72, 85, 85, 85, 90, 94. The middle value, the median, is 85.

85 appears three times, so the mode is 85. The range is 94 − 68 = 26.

When to use this tool

Finding a class, team or sales average.
Checking whether one extreme value is dragging the mean, by comparing it with the median.
Summarising survey scores, measurements or daily figures.
Getting the spread of a set of numbers for a lab report.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using the mean on skewed data such as incomes or house prices. A few large values pull it up, and the median describes a typical case better.
Averaging averages without weighting. Two groups of different sizes cannot simply be averaged.
Leaving blank or non-numeric entries in the list. The tool ignores them and tells you how many it used.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the average of a set of numbers?: Add them all up and divide by how many there are. For 4, 8 and 12: 24 ÷ 3 = 8.
What is the difference between mean, median and mode?: The mean is the sum divided by the count, the median is the middle value and the mode is the most frequent value.
When should I use the median instead of the mean?: When a few very large or very small values would distort the mean, as with incomes, house prices or response times.
Can a list have more than one mode?: Yes. If two values tie for most frequent, both are modes. If all values appear once, there is no mode.

Learn more

Results are for information only and are not financial, legal or medical advice. The calculation logic is covered by automated tests, and examples on this page are worked out and re-checked before publishing. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.