Median Calculator
Find the median (middle value) of a set of numbers. The median is the value that separates the higher half from the lower half when the numbers are sorted. Useful for statistics when the average is skewed by outliers.
Median calculator
Median
What is this?
The median is the middle value when numbers are sorted from smallest to largest. For an even count, it is the average of the two middle values. Unlike the average, the median is not skewed by extreme outliers. If one billionaire walks into a room of average earners, the average income jumps dramatically, but the median stays roughly the same. That makes the median a better "typical" value for skewed data. The calculator sorts your numbers automatically and finds the middle.
When to use
Use when your data has outliers (e.g., incomes, house prices) where the average would be misleading. Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 100 — median is 3, average is 22. Better for skewed distributions. Real estate reports often use median home price because a few luxury sales would distort the average. Salary surveys use median for the same reason. Use the median whenever extreme values could skew your interpretation.
How to use
Enter numbers separated by commas, spaces, or new lines. Median is the middle value when sorted.
For odd count: middle element. For even: average of two middle elements.
Frequently asked questions
- The median is the middle value when numbers are sorted. For an odd count, it is the center value. For an even count, it is the average of the two middle values.
- Use the median when your data has outliers that would skew the average. The median is more robust to extreme values.