Median Calculator
Paste your numbers and get the median, the middle value once they are sorted. Odd or even count, it shows the working.
- Runs in your browser
- Shows the sorted list
- Odd or even count
- Free
Find the median
Any order is fine, we sort them for you. Separate with spaces, commas or new lines.
Show the working
How to find the median
Sort them
Put the numbers in order from smallest to largest. 7, 1, 9, 4, 12, 3 becomes 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12.
Count them
Six numbers, an even count, so there are two middle values: 4 and 7.
Take the middle
Odd count: the middle number is the median. Even count: average the two middle ones. (4 + 7) ÷ 2 = 5.5.
When to use the median instead of the mean
Outliers
Salaries of 40, 45, 50, 55 and 900 thousand: the mean is 218K, the median is 50K. The median tells the truer story.
Skewed data
House prices, incomes, wait times. A few huge values drag the mean up; the median stays put.
Use the mean when…
Values are evenly spread and every one should count fully, like test scores or daily temperatures. Average calculator →
Questions people ask
How do you find the median of a set of numbers?
Sort the numbers from smallest to largest. If there is an odd count, the median is the middle number. If there is an even count, the median is the average of the two middle numbers.
What is the median of an even number of values?
The average of the two middle values. For 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 12 the two middle values are 4 and 7, so the median is (4 + 7) ÷ 2 = 5.5.
What is the difference between median and average?
The average (mean) adds every value and divides by the count. The median is simply the middle value once sorted. The median ignores how extreme the biggest and smallest values are, so it is better for skewed data like incomes.
Can the median be a number that is not in the list?
Yes, when the count is even. The median of 2 and 4 is 3, which is not in the list.
Does the order I type the numbers matter?
No. The calculator sorts them for you and shows the sorted list with the middle values highlighted.