AVERAGE Function in Google Sheets
Returns the arithmetic mean of numeric values in a range. Ignores text and blanks but treats booleans as 0/1 in some cases — usually what you want.
Syntax
AVERAGE(value1, [value2, ...])Returns: The sum of numeric values divided by the count of numeric values.
Excel equivalent: AVERAGE (identical)
Parameters
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| value1, value2, ... | Required | Numbers, cell references, or ranges to average. |
Examples
Average of a column
=AVERAGE(B2:B100)Mean of all numbers in B2:B100. Text and blanks are ignored, not treated as zero.
Average across multiple ranges
=AVERAGE(B2:B50, D2:D50)Pools the numbers across both ranges and returns one mean.
Average of expressions
=AVERAGE(A2-B2, A3-B3, A4-B4)Pass computed values directly — useful for ad-hoc means without a helper column.
When to use an alternative
- AVERAGEIF / AVERAGEIFS — You want to average only values that meet conditions.
- MEDIAN — Outliers would skew the mean — median is more robust.
- AVERAGEA — You want to count text as 0 and booleans as 0/1 in the divisor.
Common errors and how to fix them
#DIV/0!
Cause: No numeric values in the range — only text or blanks.
Fix: Wrap with IFERROR or filter the range first to verify at least one number exists.
Unexpected value
Cause: Numbers stored as text are silently excluded — divisor is smaller than expected.
Fix: Use VALUE() to convert, or look for left-aligned cells (a tell-tale sign of text-typed numbers).
Related functions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AVERAGE include zero values?
Yes. A cell containing 0 counts as a value of 0 in the average. Empty cells and text are ignored. To exclude zeros, use AVERAGEIF(range, "<>0").
What's the difference between AVERAGE and MEDIAN?
AVERAGE is the arithmetic mean — sum divided by count. MEDIAN is the middle value when sorted. Use median when your data has outliers (one big customer, one extreme score) that would skew the mean.