Skip to content
Allin
Sign up · Sign in

Mean absolute deviation (MAD) calculator

Compute the mean absolute deviation of a data set around its mean.

Related tools

All Statistics & probability tools →
Average Deviation Calculator (mean absolute deviation)The average absolute deviation from the mean AND from the median — the median is the point that minimises it, which is worth seeing. Every |x − centre| is listed, and the standard deviation sits beside it for contrast: squaring makes SD react hard to a single outlier while the average deviation barely moves. The outlier preset is built to show exactly that.Median absolute deviation calculatorA robust measure of spread: the median of the absolute distances from the median. It shrugs off outliers where the standard deviation would blow up. Multiply by 1.4826 to estimate the standard deviation of clean data.Standard deviation calculatorCompute the standard deviation, variance and mean of a list.Geometric mean calculatorCompute the geometric mean of a list of positive numbers.Harmonic mean calculatorCompute the harmonic mean of a list of positive numbers.Average (mean) calculatorCompute the mean, sum and count of a list of numbers.Mean, median & mode calculatorThe three averages of a data set at once — the mean (arithmetic average), the median (middle value) and the mode (most frequent) — plus the range. When several values tie for most frequent, they are all shown.Population standard deviation calculatorThe population standard deviation σ of a data set — how far the values spread from their mean when your data covers the whole group, dividing by N (not n−1). Enter the numbers and it returns σ, the variance σ², the mean and the count.

Enter Numbers (comma-separated) and the Mean absolute deviation (MAD) calculator works out Mean, Mean absolute deviation straight away. For instance, with Numbers (comma-separated) = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 it returns Mean = 6 and Mean absolute deviation = 2.4.

How to use it

  1. Enter your values: Numbers (comma-separated).
  2. Read the result instantly: Mean, Mean absolute deviation.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Mean absolute deviation (MAD) calculator actually compute?

It takes Numbers (comma-separated) and derives Mean and Mean absolute deviation from them. The calculation is live as you type, so the result updates on every change.

What information do I need to provide?

A single value: Numbers (comma-separated). Nothing else is required — no account, no file upload.

Can you show a worked example?

With Numbers (comma-separated) = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, the calculator returns Mean = 6 and Mean absolute deviation = 2.4. Those figures come from running this exact tool, so you can reproduce them by entering the same values.

What happens if I enter larger values?

It moves a lot. Using Numbers (comma-separated) = 2, 4, 7, 9, 12 instead, Mean goes from 6 to 6.8 — which is why it is worth testing a few scenarios rather than trusting a single figure.

What does it give for smaller values?

Scaled down to Numbers (comma-separated) = 2, 4, 6, Mean comes out at 4. The relationship is worth checking at both ends before you rely on a single result.

When would I actually use this?

Summarising a dataset before drawing conclusions from it, checking whether a difference between two groups is real, and putting an interval around an estimate.

What is the most common mistake?

Reading a p-value as the probability that the hypothesis is wrong. It is the probability of seeing data at least this extreme if the null were true — a different statement, and a much weaker one.

What is the difference between the Mean absolute deviation (MAD) calculator and the Average Deviation Calculator (mean absolute deviation)?

This one returns Mean and Mean absolute deviation; the Average Deviation Calculator (mean absolute deviation) returns Result. That is the whole difference — open the one whose figure you need.

Is there a tool for the next step?

Median absolute deviation calculator is the closest one after this: A robust measure of spread: the median of the absolute distances from the median. It shrugs off outliers where the standard deviation would blow up. Multiply by 1.4826 to estimate the standard deviation of clean data.

What else is worth having open alongside it?

Standard deviation calculator and Geometric mean calculator — they come up in the same task often enough to be worth a second tab.

Further reading

All guides →
How-toHow to Calculate Standard Deviation (Step by Step)Standard deviation measures how spread out your data is. Here's the formula, a worked example, and the difference between population and sample.ExplainerMean, Median and Mode: What's the Difference?Mean, median and mode all describe the 'middle' of your data — but answer different questions. Here's what each means, with examples and when to use which.ExplainerWhat Is a Percentile? The 90th Percentile ExplainedA percentile tells you where a value ranks within a group. Learn what the 90th percentile really means and why a percentile is not the same as a percentage.How-toHow to Calculate a Weighted AverageA weighted average gives some values more influence than others. Learn the Σ(w·x) / Σw formula with grade and portfolio examples you can follow step by step.How-toScientific Notation ExplainedScientific notation writes huge and tiny numbers as a value times a power of ten. Here's how to write it, read the exponent, and convert back.ExplainerGeometric vs Arithmetic Mean: Which to UseThe arithmetic mean adds and divides; the geometric mean multiplies and takes a root. Learn which fits growth rates, ratios, and averages.