Median Calculator
Calculate the median (middle value) of a pasted or typed list of numbers, with the sorted list shown.
Numbers (comma, space, or line separated)
Median
8
6 values
Sorted: 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15
How to Calculate the Median of a List of Numbers
The median is the middle value of a list of numbers once they're sorted from smallest to largest. If there's an odd count, the median is the single middle number. If there's an even count, it's the average of the two middle numbers. Paste or type your numbers below to find the median instantly.
Example
For 7, 12, 3, 9, 15, 5 — sorted, this becomes 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15. With 6 values (an even count), the median is the average of the two middle numbers, 7 and 9, giving (7 + 9) ÷ 2 = 8.
Common Use Cases
- Finding a "typical" value in a data set that has some extreme outliers, like house prices or salaries.
- Comparing the median to the average (mean) to check how skewed a data set is.
- Analyzing survey results, test scores, or measurement data for statistics homework.
FAQs
Why use median instead of average?
Median is less sensitive to extreme outliers than average (mean). For example, in a list of salaries where one person earns far more than everyone else, the average gets pulled upward, while the median stays representative of what a "typical" person earns.
How is the median calculated for an even number of values?
When there's an even count of numbers, there is no single middle value, so the median is the average of the two values closest to the middle of the sorted list.
Does the order I type the numbers in matter?
No — the calculator automatically sorts your numbers before finding the median, so you can enter them in any order and get the same result. The sorted list is shown below the result for reference.