How to use it
- Choose simple or weighted average.
- Paste or type your numbers, separated by commas, spaces or new lines.
- For weighted averages, enter each value with its weight.
- Optionally set a target average to see the score you still need.
Mean, median and mode
The word "average" usually means the mean: add up the values and divide by how many there are. The calculator also shows two other kinds of average:
- Median: the middle value when the numbers are sorted (or the mean of the two middle values). It is less affected by a single extreme value.
- Mode: the value that appears most often. A list can have several modes or none.
Example: test scores 85, 92, 78, 88 and 95.
- Sum = 438, count = 5, mean = 87.6
- Sorted: 78, 85, 88, 92, 95, so the median = 88
- No score repeats, so there is no mode
The calculation is shown step by step, along with the minimum and maximum. Everything happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Weighted average
When some values count more than others, use the weighted average:
Weighted average = (v₁ × w₁ + v₂ × w₂ + …) / (w₁ + w₂ + …)
Example: a course grade is 20% homework, 30% quizzes and 50% final exam. You scored 95, 82 and 76.
(95 × 20 + 82 × 30 + 76 × 50) / (20 + 30 + 50) = 8,160 / 100 = 81.6
Weights can be percentages, points or simple multipliers such as 1, 1 and 2; the result is the same as long as they are in the right proportion. The same method gives a GPA when you weight each grade point by credit hours, or an average price when you weight each price by quantity.
What score do I need?
Set a target average and the number of new scores you still expect, and the calculator works out what you need.
Example: your scores so far are 85, 92 and 78 (average 85). You want an 88 average after one more test of the same weight.
Needed = 88 × 4 − (85 + 92 + 78) = 352 − 255 = 97
If the needed score is above what is possible, such as more than 100 on a 100-point test, the calculator tells you. If you have already reached the target, it tells you that too. You can also give the new scores a different weight, for example a final exam that counts double.
Mean or median: which should I use?
Use the mean when values are fairly evenly spread, such as test scores in a class. Use the median when a few values are far from the rest. Household income is the classic example: a handful of very high incomes pulls the mean up, so the median describes a typical household better.
| Data | Mean | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 40, 42, 45, 47, 50 | 44.8 | 45 |
| 40, 42, 45, 47, 250 | 84.8 | 45 |
One outlier moved the mean by 40 points while the median did not change. For spread as well as center, use the standard deviation calculator.
Tips for entering data
- Separate numbers with commas, spaces, semicolons or line breaks. You can paste a column straight from a spreadsheet.
- Use a period for decimals (88.5). Commas are treated as separators, so type 1250 rather than 1,250 in a list.
- Anything that is not a number is skipped, and the calculator lists what it ignored so you can fix typos.
- Negative numbers are fine, for example temperatures or account changes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate an average?
Add all the numbers and divide by how many there are. For 4, 8 and 9: 21 / 3 = 7.
What is a weighted average?
An average where some values count more than others. Multiply each value by its weight, add the results and divide by the sum of the weights.
What is the difference between mean and median?
The mean is the sum divided by the count. The median is the middle value of the sorted list, which resists outliers.
Can I calculate my grade with category weights?
Yes. Use weighted average and enter each category score with its percentage weight, such as 20, 30 and 50.
How do I find the score I need on my final?
Enter your current scores, set the target average, the number of new scores and their weight; the calculator shows the minimum you need.
Last updated: November 12, 2026