How to use AVERAGE in Excel
The mean of the numbers.
Syntax
number1A range of numbers[number2]More numbers or ranges optionalExample
Here’s AVERAGE on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=AVERAGE(E2:E9)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with AVERAGE
Blanks and zeros are different
AVERAGE ignores empty cells but counts zeros. If missing values are typed as 0, your average drops. Leave them blank, or use AVERAGEIF(range,"<>0").
Averaging averages
The average of subtotals isn’t the overall average when groups have different sizes. Average the raw rows instead.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=AVERAGE(E2:E9
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the AVERAGE function do in Excel?
The mean of the numbers. The syntax is AVERAGE(number1, [number2], …).
Why is my AVERAGE formula giving the wrong answer?
Blanks and zeros are different: AVERAGE ignores empty cells but counts zeros. If missing values are typed as 0, your average drops. Leave them blank, or use AVERAGEIF(range,"<>0"). Averaging averages: The average of subtotals isn’t the overall average when groups have different sizes. Average the raw rows instead.
Does AVERAGE work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.