- 1Enter your data points in the text area, separated by commas, spaces, or line breaks.
- 2The calculator sorts your data automatically and displays the median value.
- 3The sorted dataset is shown below the result so you can verify the calculation.
The median is the middle value in a sorted dataset. Unlike the mean, the median is not affected by extreme values (outliers), which makes it especially useful for skewed distributions. For example, median household income is often more representative than mean income because a small number of very high incomes can inflate the mean.
Sort the dataset from smallest to largest. The median is the single middle value.
Dataset: 3, 7, 10, 15, 20 → Sorted: [3, 7, 10, 15, 20] → Median = 10Sort the dataset. The median is the average of the two middle values.
Dataset: 2, 4, 8, 10 → Sorted: [2, 4, 8, 10] → Median = (4 + 8) / 2 = 6Prices: $320K, $275K, $410K, $290K, $1.2M → Sorted → Median position: 3rd valueSorted: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9; middle position (3rd of 5)Sorted: 2, 4, 6, 8; average of the two middle values (4 and 6)- The median is resistant to outliers, making it a better choice than the mean for skewed data.
- For a symmetric dataset, the mean and median will be the same or very close.
- This calculator automatically sorts your data — you do not need to enter values in order.
When should I use the median instead of the mean?
Use the median when your data has outliers or is heavily skewed in one direction. Common examples include income data, home prices, and response times.
Can the median be a value not in the original dataset?
Yes. When there is an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle values, which may not exist in the original dataset. For example, the median of [2, 4, 8, 10] is 6.
How is the median found for an even number of values?
The values are sorted and the two middle numbers are averaged. For an odd count, the single middle value is used.
Why use the median instead of the mean?
The median is the middle value and is barely affected by extreme outliers, so it often describes a skewed data set better than the mean.