# Median Calculator

Calculate the median of any dataset. Enter your numbers and get the median, mean, min, max, range, and sorted values instantly.

## What this calculates

Enter your data values and find the median, the value that sits right in the middle of a sorted dataset. You will also see the mean, count, min, max, range, and the sorted order of your numbers.

## Inputs

- **Number of Values** — min 1, max 10 — How many values to analyze (1-10).
- **Value 1** — Data point 1.
- **Value 2** — Data point 2.
- **Value 3** — Data point 3.
- **Value 4** — Data point 4.
- **Value 5** — Data point 5.
- **Value 6** — Data point 6.
- **Value 7** — Data point 7.
- **Value 8** — Data point 8.
- **Value 9** — Data point 9.
- **Value 10** — Data point 10.

## Outputs

- **Median** — The middle value of the sorted dataset.
- **Mean** — Arithmetic average for comparison.
- **Count** — Number of values in the dataset.
- **Minimum** — Smallest value in the dataset.
- **Maximum** — Largest value in the dataset.
- **Range** — Difference between max and min.
- **Sorted Values** — formatted as text — All values in ascending order.

## Details

**What is the median?** The median is the middle value when you sort your data from smallest to largest. If you have an odd number of values, it is the one right in the center. If you have an even number, it is the average of the two center values.

**Why use the median instead of the mean?** The mean (average) gets pulled toward extreme values. If five people earn $40K, $45K, $50K, $55K, and $500K, the mean is $138K but the median is $50K. The median gives you a better sense of what is "typical" when outliers are present.

**How to find the median by hand:**
1. Sort your values from smallest to largest
2. If the count is odd, the median is the value at position (n+1)/2
3. If the count is even, the median is the average of values at positions n/2 and n/2+1

**Example with odd count:** For the values 3, 7, 1, 9, 5, sort them to get 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. The middle value is 5, so the median is 5.

**Example with even count:** For the values 2, 4, 6, 8, sort them to get 2, 4, 6, 8. The two middle values are 4 and 6, so the median is (4+6)/2 = 5.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What is the median of a dataset?**

A: The median is the middle value when all numbers are sorted in order. For an odd number of values, it is the single middle number. For an even number, it is the average of the two middle numbers. It splits the data into two equal halves.

**Q: When should I use the median instead of the mean?**

A: Use the median when your data has outliers or is heavily skewed. Income data, home prices, and test scores with a few extreme values are classic examples. The median is not affected by one very large or very small value the way the mean is.

**Q: Can a dataset have a median that is not one of the original values?**

A: Yes. When you have an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle values, which might not appear in the original data. For example, the median of 1, 2, 3, 4 is 2.5.

**Q: What is the difference between median and mode?**

A: The median is the middle value in sorted order. The mode is the most frequently occurring value. A dataset can have no mode (all unique values), one mode, or multiple modes. The median always exists for numeric data.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/statistics/median
Category: Statistics
Last updated: 2026-04-08