1
Enter the dataset
Add values in any order; zero, negative numbers and decimals are allowed.
Math
Free tool
Median Calculator
Find the median of a set of finite numbers and see the middle value or middle pair used.
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Find the median
Enter values in any order. The calculation sorts a copy without changing your input order.
Result
How to use this calculator
Three steps to an answer you can interpret.
2
Find the middle
The calculator sorts a copy and locates the central value or pair.
3
Read the median
For an even number of entries, it averages the two middle values.
Understand the result
The median is the central value of an ordered data set. It depends on position after sorting rather than on the sum of all observations.
How to find the median
Sort the values from smallest to largest, count them, and then identify the center of the ordered list.
Worked examples
For 10, 1 and 7, sorting gives 1, 7, 10 and the median is 7. Duplicate values stay in the ordered list and count normally.
Sorting for the calculation does not change the order of your inputs.
Odd number of values
With an odd count, the median is the single middle value. For 2, 5 and 9, the median is 5.
Even number of values
With an even count, average the two middle values. For 2, 4, 8 and 10, the middle pair is 4 and 8, so the median is 6.
Median vs average
The average uses the sum of every value. The median uses only position in the sorted set, so the two measures can differ substantially.
Outliers
The median is generally less sensitive to extreme outliers than the arithmetic mean because an extreme value often changes the ordering without moving the center as much.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to sort the data first.
- Choosing one middle value when the count is even.
- Removing duplicate values before calculating.
More useful tools
View allFrequently asked questions
Can I enter negative values?
Yes. Any finite real numbers are allowed.
Does this change my entered order?
No. The pure calculation sorts a copy of the data.