AVERAGE Function: syntax, examples, mistakes and translation notes
Returns the arithmetic mean.
Syntax
=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)
Arguments
number1
First value or range.
number2
Optional additional values/ranges.
Worked examples
=AVERAGE(10,20,30)
Returns 20.
=AVERAGE(B2:B20)
Returns the arithmetic mean of numeric values in B2:B20.
Practical tips
- Blank cells in a referenced range are ignored, while zero values are included.
- Decide whether missing values and zeros mean different things in the dataset.
- Use AVERAGEIF/AVERAGEIFS for conditional averages.
Common mistakes
- Treating blanks as zeros when interpreting the result.
- Averaging averages from groups of different sizes instead of averaging the underlying observations.
Related functions
Frequently asked questions
What does AVERAGE do?
Returns the arithmetic mean.
Why might a AVERAGE formula return an unexpected result?
Treating blanks as zeros when interpreting the result. Start by testing the smallest referenced range or condition independently before adding wrappers or fallbacks.
Check the complete formula
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Testing note: examples are educational. Spreadsheet versions, locale settings, tables, named ranges and workbook data can change behavior, so validate important formulas with representative data.