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Excel AVERAGE Formula
Complete Guide + Examples

Master the essential Excel function for calculating means. Learn syntax, examples, and advanced techniques or let AI generate your custom AVERAGE formulas instantly.

2 min read

Quick guide

Beginner

Difficulty

Free template

Included

TL;DR

Use


      =AVERAGE(range)

to calculate the mean of values. For conditional averages, use


      AVERAGEIF


      AVERAGEIFS

. describe what you need below and let AI write it for you.

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Quick AVERAGE Examples(click to try)

Average all values in column A
Average values in A1 to A100
Average multiple ranges A1:A10 and C1:C10
Average sales in column B where month is May

Generated FormulaAI Generated

=AVERAGE(A1:A10,C1:C10)

=AVERAGE(A1:A100)

=AVERAGE(A1:A10,C1:C10)


                        =AVERAGEIF(A:A,"May",B:B)

Syntax Breakdown
AVERAGE calculates the arithmetic mean of all numeric values in the entire column A. The colon notation (A:A) references all cells in the column.

Syntax Breakdown
AVERAGE calculates the mean of all values from cell A1 to A100, summing them and dividing by the count of numeric cells.

Syntax Breakdown
AVERAGE calculates the mean across two separate ranges: A1 through A10 and C1 through C10, treating all values as one dataset.

Syntax Breakdown
AVERAGEIF calculates the average of values in column B only where the corresponding cell in column A contains “May”.

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Pro Tip

Be specific about your data ranges. Instead of “average sales”, try “average sales in column B for rows 2 to 100”.

On this page
What is AVERAGE Function?
AVERAGE Syntax
How to Calculate Average
Multiple Ranges
Average Entire Column
AVERAGEIF Function
AVERAGEIFS Function
Quick Average (Status Bar)
Free Template
FAQ

Free Template

AVERAGE Examples.xslx

Download Template

1What is the AVERAGE Formula in Excel?

The AVERAGE function in Excel calculates the arithmetic mean of a set of values. It takes the sum of all values and divides it by the count of numeric values in the range. It’s one of the most fundamental statistical functions in spreadsheets.

Common use cases:

Calculate average sales performance
Determine average monthly expenses
Find mean test scores
Compute average response times

2AVERAGE Syntax

=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], …)

Argument	Required	Description
`number1`	Yes	The first number, cell reference, or range to average
`number2`	Optional	Additional numbers, cell references, or ranges (up to 255 arguments)

3How to Calculate Average in Excel

1Identify Your Data

First, locate the range of cells containing the numbers you want to average.

average formula in excel identify your data in spreadsheet

2Select the Output Cell

Choose the cell where you want the average to appear.

excel average formula calculate averages

3Enter the Formula

Type =AVERAGE( and Excel will start suggesting functions.

average function in excel example with formula in spreadsheet

4Select the Range

Click and drag over the cells you want to average, or type the range manually (e.g., A1:A10).

5Close & Execute

Type ) to close the parenthesis and press Enter.

average formula in excel spreadsheet step by step guide with calculations

Skip the manual work

Describe what you want to average in plain English and let AI generate the perfect formula for you.

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4Calculating Averages Across Multiple Ranges

If your data is scattered across your Excel sheet and you need to find the average of multiple ranges or use a non-contiguous range formula, you can list each range separated by commas.

=AVERAGE(A1:A10, C1:C10, E1:E10)

For non-adjacent cells in the same row, you can also use:

=AVERAGE(A1, C1, E1)

Multiple Ranges

You can include up to 255 different ranges in a single AVERAGE formula, making it perfect for scattered data analysis.

5Averaging an Entire Column

To average a column regardless of how many rows it contains (and have it auto-update as you add data):

=AVERAGE(A:A)

Dynamic Updates

This formula automatically updates when you add new data to the column. Perfect for growing datasets!

6AVERAGEIF Function (Single Criterion)

The AVERAGEIF formula calculates the average of cells that meet a single criterion. Use this when you need conditional averaging.

=AVERAGE(range, [criteria], [average_range])

Example: To average values in column B where column A contains “May”:

=AVERAGEIF(A:A, "May", B:B)

Argument	Description
`range`	The range of cells to evaluate against the criteria
`criteria`	The condition that must be met (e.g., “May”, “>100”)
`average_range`	The actual cells to average (optional if same as range)

7AVERAGEIFS Formula(Multiple Criteria)

To average a column The AVERAGEIFS formula calculates the average of cells that meet multiple criteria. Perfect for complex conditional averaging.of how many rows it contains (and have it auto-update as you add data):

=AVERAGEIFS(average_range, criteria_range1,criteria1, ...)

Example: To average values in column C where column A is “May” AND column B is “Project B”:

=AVERAGEIFS(C:C, A:A, "May", B:B, "Project B")

Note the Difference

In AVERAGEIFS, the average_range comes FIRST, unlike AVERAGEIF where it comes last. This is important to remember!

8Quick Average Using the Status Bar

If you don’t want to write formulas, you can use Excel’s status bar for a quick average without entering any formula.

1Select your data

Highlight the cells you want to average

2Check the Status Bar

Look at the bottom of Excel window

This is a quick way to find the average without needing to enter a formula into a cell.

Download Free Excel Template

Practice AVERAGE formulas with our ready-made template. Includes examples for basic averages, AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS, and multiple ranges.

Download Free Average Function Template (.xslx)

Download Free Excel Template

Practice AVERAGE formulas with our ready-made template. Includes examples for basic averages, AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS, and multiple ranges.

Download (.xslx)

?Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find the average in Excel if my data is not in a single, continuous range?

Use the AVERAGE function and list each range separated by commas within the parentheses. For example: =AVERAGE(A1:A10, C1:C10, E1:E10). This is how to find average in Excel with scattered data.

How do I find the average of numbers spread across multiple columns in Excel?

You can use the AVERAGE function by specifying the ranges of your columns. For example, =AVERAGE(A:A, C:C, E:E) will average entire columns A, C, and E.

How do I calculate an average based on specific criteria?

Use AVERAGEIF for one criterion or AVERAGEIFS for multiple criteria. For example: =AVERAGEIF(A:A,"North",B:B) averages column B where column A equals “North”.

Does AVERAGE include empty cells in the calculation?

No, the AVERAGE function ignores empty cells and text values. It only calculates the mean of numeric values in the specified range.

What’s the difference between AVERAGE and AVERAGEA?

AVERAGE ignores text and logical values, while AVERAGEA includes them (treating text as 0, TRUE as 1, and FALSE as 0). Use AVERAGEA when you need to include all cell types in your calculation.