This calculator computes the arithmetic mean (standard average), perfect for everyday calculations with equal-weight values and working with both positive and negative numbers. For other calculation types, use our geometric mean calculator for growth rates, our harmonic mean calculator for rates and speeds, or our weighted mean calculator for values with varying importance. Compare different types of means →

Arithmetic Mean Calculator

Input formats help

Mean Formula

μ = (Σx) ÷ N
Where: μ = mean, Σx = sum of values, N = count

Result

Understanding Mean Values

Examples & Uses

See real-world examples and practical applications

Kids' Guide to Mean

Learn about means with fun examples 🍬

Compare Averages

Understand when to use mean, median, or mode

Calculator Features

Easy Input Options

  • Type or Paste Enter numbers with semicolons, commas, or line breaks
  • File Upload Support for Excel, CSV, TXT files up to 3MB
  • Spreadsheet Support Import data directly from Excel and Google Sheets

Advanced Analysis

  • Visual Results Interactive charts with downloadable images
  • Multiple Statistics View mean, median, and mode together
  • Export Options Save results and visualizations

Easy Sharing

  • One-Click Links Share your calculations with a shareable URL
  • Bookmarkable Results Save and revisit your calculations
  • Collaboration Ready Share with colleagues, students, or peers

Ready to Test Your Knowledge?

Take our interactive quiz to check your understanding of different types of means

Quick Help Guide

Getting Started

  1. Enter numbers separated by semicolons (1; 2; 3)
  2. Or upload an Excel/CSV/TXT file with your data
  3. Click Calculate to see results
  4. Toggle median/mode lines as needed

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I share my calculation results with others?

Sharing your calculations is simple:

  1. Enter your data and calculate the results
  2. Click the Share button
  3. Choose your preferred sharing method:
    • Copy Link - copies a link to your clipboard that you can paste anywhere
    • Show QR Code - displays a scannable QR code perfect for in-person sharing

How sharing works:

  • Your data is compressed and encoded directly into the URL
  • Nothing is stored on our servers - your data stays completely private
  • When someone opens the link or scans the code, their browser decodes the data
  • Larger datasets create longer URLs, which may cause compatibility issues

Pro Tip: Bookmark shared links to save your calculations for future reference! This is great for recurring analyses or tracking changes over time.

What do the different colored icons mean when sharing?

When you click the Share button, you'll see sharing options with colored icons. These colors indicate how well your link will work on different devices:

Copy Link Icons:

Green

This link will work on all devices

Yellow

This link may not work on some older browsers

Orange

This link is quite long and might not work on some devices

Red

This link is very long and may not work on many devices

QR Code Icons:

Green

Easy to scan on all phones

Yellow

May be difficult to scan on some phones

Gray (disabled)

Your data is too large for a reliable scannable code

What is a Link? - A Link is the web address that appears in your browser's address bar (like "meancalculator.com"), it is also known as the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in technical terms. When you use "Copy Link," you're copying a link that anyone can paste into their web browser to see your calculation.

Why do these icons change colors?

The colors change based on how long your link is. Longer links (from larger datasets) may not work on all devices.

  • Modern browsers: Can handle very long links (64,000+ characters)
  • Older browsers: May only handle shorter links (2,000-8,000 characters)
  • QR codes: Work best with fewer than 500 characters
  • Older phones: Struggle to scan QR codes with more than 250 characters

Pro Tip: For best results, use the "Copy Link" option for large datasets and reserve QR codes for smaller calculations that need to be shared quickly.

How is my data handled when I share a calculation?

When you share a calculation:

  • Your entire dataset is compressed and encoded directly in the Link
  • Nothing is stored on our servers - we don't keep any record of your data
  • The data is decoded in the browser of the person who receives your link
  • Your shared calculations remain private unless you give someone the Link or QR code

Important Privacy Note

Anyone with the Link or QR code can see your data. Avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information through this feature, as the data is visible to anyone who has access to the link.

Privacy Benefits

  • No account required to share calculations
  • No data collection or tracking of your calculations
  • Links can be bookmarked for personal use
  • Your data stays completely private unless you choose to share it

What should I do if I'm having problems with sharing?

If you encounter issues when sharing your calculations, try these solutions:

Link is too long (orange/red icon)

  • Reduce your dataset size by removing unnecessary data points
  • Break your analysis into multiple smaller calculations
  • If using modern browsers only, you can still try sharing despite the warning

QR code option is grayed out

  • Your dataset is too large for a reliable QR code (over 500 characters)
  • Use the "Copy Link" option instead for large datasets
  • Consider reducing your dataset size if you specifically need QR sharing

QR code doesn't scan properly

  • Ensure good lighting when scanning
  • Hold the phone steady and at the right distance
  • Try using the downloaded QR code image for better quality
  • Consider reducing dataset size to create a simpler QR code
  • Some older phones struggle with QR codes containing more than 250 characters

Link doesn't work when shared

  • Some messaging apps or email clients may break long URLs
  • Try using a URL shortener service before sharing very long links
  • For large datasets, consider breaking them into multiple calculations

Pro Tip: For classroom or presentation sharing, prepare your calculations ahead of time with appropriately sized datasets to ensure QR codes work reliably for all participants.

How can I use QR codes effectively for sharing calculations?

QR codes are perfect for sharing your calculations in physical settings or presentations:

For Classroom Use:

  • Download the QR code and add it to handouts
  • Include in presentation slides for students to scan
  • Print and post for group exercises

For Presentations:

  • Add to slides for quick audience access
  • Include in digital materials sent after presentations
  • Display during Q&A sessions for reference

QR Code Size Recommendations:

  • Best scanning experience: Keep your dataset under 250 characters (typically 10-15 data points)
  • Maximum practical limit: 500 characters
  • For printed materials: Make QR codes at least 1 inch (2.5cm) in size
  • For presentations: Ensure the QR code is large and clearly visible

Pro Tip: For educational settings, prepare example calculations in advance with smaller datasets to ensure all students can scan the QR codes regardless of phone model.

How much data can I share in a single calculation?

You can share more data than you might expect, thanks to our compression technology:

How Our Compression Works:

The calculator compresses your dataset before encoding it in the URL. This means:

  • Dataset size isn't directly proportional to URL length - a dataset with 100 numbers might only use the space of 20-30 numbers in the URL
  • Compression works best with datasets that have patterns or similar values
  • Our system automatically chooses the most efficient compression method for your data

However, there are still practical limits to be aware of:

For Link Sharing:

  • Modern browsers: 500+ values typically work well
  • Older browsers: 100-300 values recommended
  • The Share button color indicates compatibility

For QR Code Sharing:

  • 10-30 values for reliable scanning
  • Up to 50 values for modern phones
  • QR option is disabled if your dataset is too large

Pro Tip: If your dataset is very large, try breaking it into meaningful segments for better sharing compatibility. You can also use the "Copy Link" option instead of QR codes for larger datasets.