Example 1
- List: 12 7 9 3 18
9
Sorted: 3, 7, 9, 12, 18. The middle is 9.
Median calculator
Type a list of numbers. The median is the middle value after sorting. 12 7 9 3 18 sorts to 3, 7, 9, 12, 18, so the middle is 9. For the even list 4 10 2 8 the middle pair is 4 and 8, and their average is 6.
The median is the middle of a sorted list. With an odd count, take the center value. With an even count, average the two center values. One extreme number usually hurts the median less than it hurts the ordinary mean.
Result
Enter a list of numbers to see the median.
What it means
Take the numbers 3, 7, 2. Sorted: 2, 3, 7. The middle is 3, that is the median. With an even count, for example 1, 4, 6, 10, the middle pair is 4 and 6. The median is (4+6)/2 = 5.
That is not the arithmetic mean. The mean feels every value. The median mostly looks at order and the center. 10 12 11 1000 has mean 258.25, and the median falls between 11 and 12. One outlier spoils the picture less.
The Numbers field. Separate with spaces, semicolons, or commas, for example 12 7 9. Write 3.5 with one comma or period. Type 12 7 9 3 18, click Calculate. The calculator also shows how many numbers were used.
4 10 2 8 sorts to 2, 4, 8, 10, median 6. The mean of that same list is also 6, a coincidence. 1 1 2 3 100: median 2, mean 21.4.
Without a list, nothing computes. Input order does not matter; the calculator sorts. The header does not move the middle.
The list 2 5 9 11 20 has median 9. 10 10 10 10 50 has median 10. Compare both with means 9.4 and 18. The median is after sorting the list.
Where it helps
- Grades, test scores, simple school statistics.
- Sets with one extreme value that warps the mean.
- Comparing a “typical middle” with an average.
- Quick homework checks.
How to use
- Type numbers in Numbers, separated by spaces, semicolons, or commas, for example 12 7 9 3 18.
- Write a decimal with one comma or one period, for example 3.5.
- Click Calculate. Five numbers 12 7 9 3 18 give 9. Four numbers 4 10 2 8 give 6.
- Check how many numbers were used. For an even count the calculator averages the two middle values.
- The mean of the same list lives on arithmetic mean. Here you keep the middle after sorting.
Median, middle, and sorting
The median is the middle of a sorted list. Five numbers 12 7 9 3 18 give 9. Four numbers 4 10 2 8 give 6.
- median
- The middle after sorting. 12 7 9 3 18 gives 9. 10 10 10 10 50 stays at 10, even though the mean is 18.
- sorting
- The calculator lines the numbers up from smallest. Input order does not change the 9: 18 3 9 7 12 is the same five.
- mean
- The sum divided by n, on the next card. For 10 12 11 1000 the median is 11.5 and the mean is 258.25.
Examples
Example 2
- List: 4 10 2 8
6
Sorted: 2, 4, 8, 10. Middle pair 4 and 8. Average: 6.
Example 3
- List: 10 12 11 1000
11.5
Median (11+12)/2 = 11.5. The mean would be much higher because of 1000.
Example 4
- Numbers: 2 5 9 11 20
9
Scores 2 5 9 11 20: after sorting the middle is 9.
Example 5
- Numbers: 1 1 2 3 100
2
Four small amounts and 100: median 2, though the mean is 21.4.
Example 6
- Numbers: 10 10 10 10 50
10
Four tens and a 50: the median stays 10.
Example 7
- Numbers: 3 6 9 12
7.5
The list 3 6 9 12: middle pair 6 and 9, median 7.5.
Example 8
- Numbers: -2 0 4 8 10
4
The list −2 0 4 8 10: after sorting the middle is 4.
Related calculators
FAQ
What is the median of 12 7 9 3 18?
The median is 9. Lined up from smallest the list is 3, 7, 9, 12, 18, and an odd five has its middle exactly on nine.
What is the median of 4 10 2 8?
It comes out 6. Sorted 2, 4, 8, 10 have two middle values, 4 and 8, and their average is 6.
How do you find the median for an odd count?
Sort the list and take the single middle value. Three numbers 2, 3 and 7 give median 3, with no averaging.
And for an even count?
Average the two middle entries. For 1, 4, 6, 10 the middle pair is 4 and 6, so the median is (4+6)/2 = 5.
How is the median different from the mean?
The mean divides the sum by n and feels every outlier. The median stays in the middle: for 1 1 2 3 100 the median is 2 and the mean is 21.4.
What is 10 12 11 1000?
After sorting the middle pair is 11 and 12, so the median is 11.5. The mean of the same four jumps to 258.25 because of the thousand.
Does input order change the 9?
No. 18 3 9 7 12 sorts to the same five, so the middle is still 9.
What is 10 10 10 10 50?
The median stays 10, because after sorting the middle still sits on ten. The mean of that list is 18.
How do I separate the numbers?
Use spaces, semicolons, or commas between values. 3.5 is one decimal, not two entries 3 and 5.
Does 2 5 9 11 20 have median 9?
Yes. The list is already in order, so the middle is 9. The mean of those same scores is 9.4.
Knowledge sources
The calculator computes the same formula as the definition below.
Page updated in 2026.