Excel provides a variety of ways to find the average of a set of numbers. For example, you can use functionsA standard formula that takes a value or values, performs an operation, and returns a value or values. You can use functions to simplify and shorten formulas on a sheet, especially those that perform lengthy or complex calculations. to calculate a simple average, a weighted average, or an average that excludes specific values.
Use the provided sample data and the following procedures to learn how to calculate averages.
![]() | Copy the sample data |
To better understand the steps, copy the following sample data to cell A1 on a blank sheet.
Create a blank workbook or sheet.
Select the following sample data.
Note Do not select the row or column headings (1, 2, 3... A, B, C...) when you copy the sample data to a blank sheet.
Selecting sample data in Help1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A B C Unit Quality Price Per Unit Number of Units Ordered 10 35 500 7 25 750 9 30 200 10 40 300 8 27 400 5 20 200 Average unit quality Average price per unit Average quality for all units rated above 5 Press ⌘+C.
In the sheet, select cell A1, and then press ⌘+V.
![]() | Calculate the simple average |
Get a quick average
Select cells A2 through A7 (the values in the Unit Quality column).
On the status barA horizontal area at the bottom of the document window that shows information about the current state of what you are viewing in the window, and any other contextual information., click the area to the left of the SCRL (scroll lock) indicator (the area might contain the text Sum=49), and then click Average.
The result is 8.166666667.
Note If you don't see the status bar, on the View menu, click Status Bar.
Calculate the average for a list of numbers in a row or column
Select cell A8, which is the cell to the left of the cell that contains the text "Average unit quality."
Click the arrow next to AutoSum
, click Average, and then press RETURN.
The result is 8.166666667, which is the average quality rating for all units.
Tips
To display a number as a currency value, select the cell, and then on the View menu, click Formatting Palette. Under Number, on the Format pop-up menu, click Currency.
If you're working with data that lists numbers in a row, select the first blank cell at the end of the row, and then click the arrow next to AutoSum
.
![]() | Calculate a weighted average |
This example calculates the average price paid for a unit across all orders, where each order is for a different number of units at a different price per unit.
Select cell A9, which is the cell to the left of the cell that contains the text "Average price per unit."
On the View menu, click Formula Builder.
In the Formula Builder list, double-click SUMPRODUCT.
Under Arguments, click the box next to array1, and then on the sheet, select cells B2 through B7 (the values in the Price Per Unit column).
Under Arguments, click the box next to array2, and then on the sheet, select cells C2 through C7 (the values in the Number of Units Ordered column).
In the formula bar, click to the right of the closing parenthesis for the formula, and then type /
If you don't see the formula bar, on the View menu, click Formula Bar.
In the Formula Builder list, double-click SUM.
Under Arguments, select the range in the number1 box, press DELETE, and then on the sheet, select cells C2 through C7 (the values in the Number of Units column).
Press RETURN.
This formula divides the total cost of all the orders by the total number of units ordered, which results in a weighted price per unit average of 29.38297872.
![]() | Calculate the average of numbers, ignoring specific values |
This example excludes specific values in the list when calculating the average.
Select cell A10, which is the cell to the left of the cell that contains the text "Average quality for all units rated above 5."
On the View menu, click Formula Builder.
In the Formula Builder list, double-click AVERAGEIF.
Under Arguments, click the box next to range, and then on the sheet, select cells A2 through A7 (the values in the Price Per Unit column).
Under Arguments, click the box next to criteria, and then type ">5".
Press RETURN.
The formula calculates the average unit quality for all units with a rating greater than 5, which excludes the value in cell A7 from the calculation, and results in an average unit quality of 8.8.
Tip To use the AVERAGEIF function to calculate an average that excludes zero values in a list of numbers, type "<>0" in the box next to criteria.





