AVERAGE
Returns the arithmetic mean of its arguments. Calculates the average by dividing the sum of values by the count of values.
AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)Arguments
number1The first number or range to calculate averagenumber2Additional numbers or ranges(optional)
=AVERAGE(A1:A10)Returns the average of values in A1:A10
=AVERAGE(10,20,30)Returns the average of 10, 20, and 30
=AVERAGE(A1:A5,C1:C5)Averages values from two ranges
- •AVERAGE ignores empty cells but counts cells with 0
- •Text values and logical values are ignored
- •Use AVERAGEIF for conditional averages
- •Forgetting that AVERAGE skips empty cells entirely instead of treating them as zero, which quietly changes the result
- •Including a 0 that actually represents 'no data' - that zero gets averaged in and drags the result down
- •Averaging a range that includes text values, expecting them to count as zero - AVERAGE just ignores them instead
AVERAGEIFAverages only the cells that meet one conditionAVERAGEIFSAverages cells that meet multiple conditionsMEDIANReturns the middle value instead of the mean, less skewed by outliersWhy is my AVERAGE higher or lower than expected?
Check whether the range includes cells that should be blank but actually contain a 0 - a real zero pulls the average down, while a truly empty cell is skipped entirely.
Does AVERAGE treat a cell containing 0 the same as an empty cell?
No. A true empty cell is skipped entirely, but a cell containing 0 is counted as a value, which lowers the average.
How do I average only non-zero values?
Use AVERAGEIF(range,"<>0") to exclude zeros from the calculation.
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