MS Excel: How to use the AVERAGE Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel AVERAGE function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel AVERAGE function returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the numbers provided.

The AVERAGE function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Statistical Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the AVERAGE function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the AVERAGE function in Microsoft Excel is:

AVERAGE( number1, [number2], ... [number_n] )

Parameters or Arguments

number1, number2, ... number_n

Numeric values that can be numbers, named ranges, arrays, or references to numbers. There can be up to 30 values entered.

Returns

The AVERAGE function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

• Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

• Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel AVERAGE function examples and explore how to use the AVERAGE function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following AVERAGE examples would return:

=AVERAGE(B2, B3)
Result: 8.85

=AVERAGE(B3, B5, 45)
Result: 19.2

=AVERAGE(B2:B6)
Result: 46.24