Average in Excel: How to Calculate It

To calculate an average in Excel, enter =AVERAGE(A2:A6) in an empty cell, replacing A2:A6 with the range that contains your numbers, then press Enter. Excel adds the numeric values and divides by how many numbers there are. You can also select the numbers to see their average on the status bar without adding a formula.

The average is useful for summarizing values such as test scores, monthly expenses, or sales figures. Before you begin, make sure the cells you want to include contain numbers and that you know whether zeros should count. Excel includes zero in an average, but skips blank cells.

What You’ll Need

A workbook open in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows.
A set of numeric values in cells, ideally arranged in one column or row with a clear heading.
An empty cell where you can display the result, unless you only want to check the average on the status bar.

Step-by-Step

Identify the values to average. Look at the worksheet and decide which cells belong in the calculation. For example, if five quiz scores are in A2 through A6, use that range. Do not include the heading in A1. If the values are spread across different parts of the sheet, note each range you want included. Confirm that you are not including totals or other values that would distort the result.
Choose an empty result cell. Click a blank cell where you want the average to appear, such as B2. Keeping the answer separate from the source values makes it easier to read and avoids accidentally overwriting data. Add a nearby label such as Average in B1 if the worksheet needs context. A formula can be entered in any empty cell, including on another worksheet if you deliberately reference the source cells.
Enter the AVERAGE formula. With the quiz scores in A2:A6 and the result intended for B2, type =AVERAGE(A2:A6) in B2. The colon means the range includes every cell from A2 through A6. Press Enter. For scores of 12, 18, 20, 25, and 25, the result is 20: their sum is 100, and 100 divided by five scores is 20. If your values are elsewhere, replace the range with the correct first and last cell references.
Check that the range is right. Click the result cell and look at the formula bar. The selected range should cover all intended values and exclude headings, notes, and unrelated numbers. You can also double-click the formula cell or press F2 to inspect its references, then press Enter to confirm. If the range is wrong, edit it directly or select the correct cells while entering the formula.
Use the ribbon if you prefer not to type the function name. Select the cell where the result should go. On the Home tab, choose the arrow next to AutoSum in the Editing group, then choose Average. Select the cells to include if Excel does not identify the desired range automatically, and press Enter. Review the proposed range before accepting it; Excel may choose adjacent values, which is not always the same as the data you intend to summarize.
Check an average without inserting a formula. Select the numeric cells you want to inspect. Excel can show Average on the status bar at the bottom of the window, along with other quick calculations. If Average is not displayed, right-click the status bar and select Average in its list of available calculations. This is convenient for a quick check, but the result is not entered into a worksheet cell and will not be available as a value for another calculation.
Format and label the answer. If the result shows too many decimal places, select the result cell and use Home > Number to choose a number format or adjust the decimal places. Formatting changes how the value is displayed, not the underlying average. Give the result a clear label and, where appropriate, include the units, such as points or dollars. Avoid displaying no decimal places if rounding would make the result misleading.

If you select separated groups of values, you can include multiple ranges in the same function. With morning readings in A2:A6, afternoon readings in C2:C6, and the answer in E2, enter =AVERAGE(A2:A6,C2:C6) in E2. If the ten readings total 200, Excel returns 20. The comma separates the two ranges; do not use a space or a semicolon in this example. Excel normally uses commas in formulas under the standard regional settings, though some computer regional settings use a different list separator.

The standard AVERAGE function calculates the arithmetic mean, not the middle value. It adds the included numbers and divides by the count of included numbers. If you need the middle value after sorting values, use the MEDIAN function instead. A few unusually high or low values can pull an average away from what seems typical, so consider whether the arithmetic mean answers the question you are trying to answer.

Common Mistakes

Including the heading or wrong cells: Selecting an extra range can pull in unrelated numbers, such as a subtotal or a date serial value. Check the references in the formula bar and select only the intended observations.
Assuming blank cells count as zero: AVERAGE skips empty cells. If a missing entry should represent a genuine zero, enter 0 in that cell. If it means data has not been collected, leaving it blank is usually more faithful to the data.
Forgetting that actual zeros count: A cell containing 0 is a numeric value and affects the result. For example, the average of 10, 0, and 20 is 10, not 15. Decide whether zero is a real observation before interpreting the answer.
Using text that looks like a number: Values pasted from a website or imported from another system may be stored as text. AVERAGE ignores text in a referenced range, so the result may be based on fewer cells than expected. Check alignment, cell warnings, and the number of numeric entries.
Confusing average with total: AutoSum often inserts a sum if you click its main button. Open the arrow beside AutoSum and choose Average, or enter the AVERAGE function yourself. Confirm the result is in the expected range before using it.
Rounding the source values too early: A cell can display 2.5 while its stored value is more precise. Excel uses the stored value in the average unless you change the data itself. Usually, format the result for readability rather than altering source numbers simply to make them look rounded.

Tips

Keep the observations together in a clean column, with one heading above them. This makes the range easier to select and review later.
Use the status bar to compare the average of different selections quickly. Select one group, note its Average, and then select another group. Remember that the status-bar value is only a temporary summary.
When a list will grow, consider converting the data range to an Excel table with Insert > Table. AVERAGE can refer to a table column, which is easier to understand than a long cell range and can include rows added to the table.
For an average that should include only rows meeting a condition, such as scores for one class, look at AVERAGEIF or AVERAGEIFS. These functions let you specify criteria rather than averaging every numeric cell in a range.
For a weighted average, where some values count more than others, a plain arithmetic average may not be appropriate. For example, a final grade may give an exam more weight than a quiz. Confirm the weights and the intended calculation before choosing a formula.

Troubleshooting

The result is #DIV/0!: Excel found no numeric values to average in the referenced cells. Check that the range is correct and that the entries are numbers rather than text. Also check whether the selected range contains only blanks or labels. Convert valid text numbers to numbers before recalculating.
The result is lower or higher than expected: Inspect the range for zeros, hidden or overlooked entries, duplicate data, and unrelated numbers. AVERAGE includes numeric values in hidden rows if they are inside the referenced range. If you only want visible filtered rows, a SUBTOTAL-based calculation may be more suitable; check its behavior for filtered and manually hidden rows before relying on it.
A number is being ignored: Select the cell and look for a warning indicator or a number stored as text. You can often choose the warning menu and select Convert to Number. If there is no warning, try changing the cell format to General and re-entering the value, or use Data > Text to Columns to convert a column of imported text numbers. Check a few cells afterward to ensure they are numeric.
The formula appears as text instead of calculating: The cell may be formatted as Text, or the entry may begin with an apostrophe. Change the cell format to General, edit the formula, and press Enter. Also check that Show Formulas is not turned on; on Windows, press Ctrl+` to toggle it. On Mac, the equivalent shortcut is Control+` in many Excel configurations, though keyboard layouts can vary.
The displayed result seems rounded: The cell may be showing fewer decimal places than the stored result. Select it and increase the decimal places from Home > Number. Do not assume that the displayed digits are the full precision of the calculation.

Excel for the web also supports the AVERAGE function, although the ribbon layout can differ from the Windows desktop version. In Excel for Mac, the formula works the same way; ribbon placement and keyboard shortcuts may vary by version and keyboard layout. If you share the workbook, check that the recipient can see the result cell and its label, rather than relying only on a status-bar calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the AVERAGE function calculate?

It returns the arithmetic mean: the sum of the numeric values divided by their count. In a referenced range, empty cells and text entries are ignored, while numeric zeros are included. Errors in the referenced data can cause the formula to return an error.

How do I average cells that are not next to each other?

Include each separate range as an argument, separated by commas. For example, the formula shown earlier averages A2:A6 together with C2:C6. Select only the groups that belong in the calculation, and make sure your Excel regional settings use commas as the formula list separator.

Can I calculate an average without putting a formula in a cell?

Yes. Select the cells and check Average on the status bar. If it is missing, right-click the status bar and enable Average. This is a quick way to inspect a selection, but it does not create a saved result in the worksheet.

Does Excel include zero values in an average?

Yes. A numeric zero counts as one of the observations and affects the mean. A blank cell is skipped. Use zero only when it represents an actual value, rather than a missing or not-yet-recorded entry.

Why does the average change when I add another number?

The added number becomes another observation in the calculation if it is inside the formula range. A value above the current average tends to raise it, and a value below tends to lower it. If the new entry is outside the referenced range, it will not affect the result until you expand the range or use a table reference.

Should I use AVERAGE or MEDIAN?

Use AVERAGE when you want the arithmetic mean of all included values. Use MEDIAN when the middle value is a better description, especially when a few extreme values would pull the mean noticeably. Neither is universally better; choose the measure that fits the data and the question.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.