Average, Median & Mode Calculator

How to use the average, median & mode calculator

1. Fill in the fields — they start with a worked example.
2. Read the answer, and the arithmetic shown beneath it.
3. Copy the results, or adjust the inputs to compare scenarios.

About this tool

Three different things get called the average. The mean adds everything and divides; the median is the middle value; the mode is the most common. They agree on symmetric data and diverge sharply on skewed data — which is why median income is quoted rather than mean income.

Standard deviation is given both ways. The sample version (dividing by n−1) is correct when your numbers are a sample of something larger, which is the usual case; the population version (dividing by n) applies only when you have every member of the group.

Common uses

• Summarising a set of measurements or scores.
• Checking how spread out a set of results is.
• Finding the median when outliers distort the mean.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use the median instead of the mean?

When the data is skewed or has outliers. One extreme value drags the mean; the median barely moves.

Which standard deviation do I want?

Sample, in almost every case — use population only when your numbers cover the entire group, not a sample of it.