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Guide

How to Calculate Mean, Median, Mode and Range

Understand the four common summary statistics, when each is meaningful, and how to interpret them.

Open the Average Calculator

An average calculator summarises a list of numbers with the mean, median, mode, and range. Each tells a different story about your data, and choosing the right one matters.

The four statistics

  • Mean — the arithmetic average: sum of values divided by the count.
  • Median — the middle value when the data is sorted; robust to outliers.
  • Mode — the most frequent value; useful for categorical data.
  • Range — the difference between the highest and lowest values.

When to use each

Use the mean for symmetric data without extreme outliers. Use the median when outliers skew the mean — for example, incomes or house prices, where a few huge values pull the mean up. Use the mode for the most common category or value. Use the range for a quick sense of spread.

How to use the calculator

  1. Paste or type your numbers, separated by commas, spaces, or new lines.
  2. Read the mean, median, mode, range, and count.
  3. Compare mean and median to judge whether outliers are present.

Examples

For the list 4, 4, 6, 8, 10: mean = 32 ÷ 5 = 6.4; median = 6; mode = 4; range = 10 − 4 = 6. Add an outlier of 100 and the mean jumps to 22 while the median stays at 6 — a clear sign the median is the better summary here.

When an average calculator is useful

  • Summarising test scores, sales, or survey results.
  • Comparing typical values across groups.
  • Spotting outliers by comparing mean and median.
  • Quick statistics for reports and presentations.

Put it into practice

Use the Average Calculator right now — free, in your browser, no sign-up required.

Try the Average Calculator

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