Math
AVERAGE
Definition
AVERAGE returns the arithmetic mean of the numbers it receives.
Syntax
=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
number1 |
The first value to include: a number, a cell, or a range such as B2:B5. |
number2, ... |
Optional extra values or ranges that join the same mean. |
Worked example
A gardener measures four seedlings in centimetres. The heights are in B2:B5 under a header in row 1.
| A: Plant | B: Height (cm) |
|---|---|
| Basil | 18 |
| Mint | 27 |
| Thyme | 20 |
| Sage | 35 |
Formula: =AVERAGE(B2:B5)
Result: 25. The heights add up to 100, and 100 divided by 4 plants is 25.
Practice
Cells D2:D4 hold three quiz results: 64, 70, and 91. Write a formula that returns the mean result.
- In D5, write an AVERAGE formula for D2:D4.
- D5 should show the mean of D2:D4.
Step 1 of 2
Enter =AVERAGE(D2:D4) in D5.
(64 + 70 + 91) / 3 is 75.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
D5 uses AVERAGE.
D5 now shows 75.
Related functions
AVERAGE equals SUM divided by COUNT, so those two functions are the closest companions when you want to check how a mean was built.
Common mistake
Typing 0 in a cell where a measurement is simply missing drags the mean down, because AVERAGE counts that zero; leave the cell empty so it is ignored.