How to use MEDIAN in Excel
The middle value.
Syntax
number1A range of numbers[number2]More numbers optionalExample
Here’s MEDIAN on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=MEDIAN(F2:F9)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with MEDIAN
Even counts average the middle two
With an even number of values, MEDIAN returns the average of the two middle values, which may not appear in your data.
Use it when outliers skew the average
One huge order inflates AVERAGE; MEDIAN barely moves.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=MEDIAN(F2:F9
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the MEDIAN function do in Excel?
The middle value. The syntax is MEDIAN(number1, [number2], …).
Why is my MEDIAN formula giving the wrong answer?
Even counts average the middle two: With an even number of values, MEDIAN returns the average of the two middle values, which may not appear in your data. Use it when outliers skew the average: One huge order inflates AVERAGE; MEDIAN barely moves.
Does MEDIAN 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.