Median calculator
Paste or type your numbers and see the median, the first and third quartiles, the mode and the mean straight away. The numbers don't need to be in order.
Separate the numbers with a semicolon, space or new line. Commas work as long as you don't use decimal commas.
Fill in the fields; the answer appears here straight away.
How it's worked out
How it works
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Enter the values
Type the numbers or the formula. Decimals may use a point or a comma. No idea? Click Fill in an example.
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Instant answer
The answer appears as you type, with the most important intermediate values.
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See the working
Under "How it's worked out" you see the steps, handy for checking your own calculation.
What is the median?
The median is the middle number when you put all the numbers in order from smallest to largest. Half of the numbers are smaller (or equal), the other half larger.
- Odd count: the median of 3, 5, 8, 12 and 20 is 8.
- Even count: take the mean of the two middle ones. For 3, 5, 8 and 12 that is (5 + 8) ÷ 2 = 6.5.
Median or mean?
One outlier pushes the mean up, but not the median. If four people earn 2,500 and one earns 25,000, the mean is 7,000 but the median is 2,500. That is why incomes and house prices are usually reported as medians. Only need the mean? Use the average calculator.
Quartiles and box plots
The first quartile (Q1) is the median of the lower half, the third quartile (Q3) that of the upper half. With an odd count, the middle number is left out of both halves. The interquartile range Q3 − Q1 shows how spread out the middle half of the numbers is. Together with the smallest and largest number you have everything for a box plot. Spreadsheets sometimes use a different method for quartiles, so small differences are normal.
Frequently asked questions
Is the median calculator free?
Yes. The median calculator is completely free, with no account, sign-up or usage limit.
How accurate is the result?
The tool calculates with your browser's number precision. For important calculations, always double-check what you entered.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in any modern browser on a phone, tablet or computer.