# Google Sheets AVERAGE Function: Syntax, Examples & Tips - URL: https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/average-function - Author: Better Analyst Formula Bot is now Better Analyst—same account, more powerful analysis.Formula Bot is now Better Analyst—same account and workflows, with more powerful analysis, dashboards, and automation. [Learn what changed](https://betteranalyst.com/formula-bot-is-now-better-analyst) Returns the arithmetic mean of a set of numbers, ignoring text. ``` =AVERAGE(value1, [value2, ...]) ``` Generate FormulaExplain Formula One free generation or explanation per browser, shared across Excel and Google Sheets. Account usage limits apply afterward. Describe the AVERAGE you need in plain EnglishGenerate Formula ## Parameters | Parameter | Required | Description | | - | - | - | | **value1** | Yes | The first number, cell, or range to include in the average. | | **value2, ...** | No | Additional numbers, cells, or ranges to include. | ## What Is AVERAGE? AVERAGE returns the arithmetic mean: it adds up the numbers you give it and divides by how many numbers there are. It is one of the most widely used functions in Google Sheets, for anything from test scores to daily sales. ## How AVERAGE Works You can pass AVERAGE individual numbers, single cells, whole ranges, or a mix. Inside a range, AVERAGE only looks at cells that contain numbers. **Text and empty cells in a range are skipped** and do not count toward the divisor. Cells containing zero **are** counted, which is an important distinction: a blank means "no data", while 0 is a real value that pulls the average down. Logical values (TRUE/FALSE) stored in referenced cells are also ignored. If you need text and logical values to count, use [AVERAGEA](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averagea-function). ## Basic Examples ### Average a column ``` =AVERAGE(B2:B31) ``` Returns the mean of all numbers in B2:B31. ### Average several ranges ``` =AVERAGE(B2:B10, D2:D10) ``` Treats both ranges as one combined list of numbers. ### Average typed values ``` =AVERAGE(4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) ``` Returns 18. ### Average and round ``` =ROUND(AVERAGE(C2:C50), 1) ``` Shows the average to one decimal place. ## How Blanks, Zeros, and Text Are Treated | Cell contents | Counted by AVERAGE? | | - | - | | A number, including 0 | Yes | | Empty cell | No | | Text such as `"n/a"` | No | | TRUE / FALSE in a cell | No | | An error such as `#N/A` | The whole formula returns the error | Because errors propagate, a single `#DIV/0!` in your range will break the average. Clean the source data or use a filtered version of the range. ## Averaging With Conditions To average only the rows that meet a condition, use [AVERAGEIF](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageif-function) for one condition or [AVERAGEIFS](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageifs-function) for several. For example, average order value for one region: ``` =AVERAGEIF(A2:A200, "West", C2:C200) ``` ## Ignoring Zeros If zeros in your data mean "not recorded" rather than a true zero, exclude them: ``` =AVERAGEIF(B2:B31, "<>0") ``` ## Common Use Cases - **Performance tracking**: average daily sessions, sales, or tickets closed - **Grading**: a student's mean score across assignments - **Pricing**: average selling price across transactions - **Operations**: average delivery time or handling time - **Benchmarks**: compare each row to the group mean, for example `=B2-AVERAGE($B$2:$B$31)` ## Common Errors - **#DIV/0!**: The range has no numbers at all, often because numbers were imported as text. - **Numbers stored as text**: Values aligned to the left are often text. AVERAGE skips them silently, which gives a misleading result rather than an error. Convert them with VALUE or by changing the format. - **Errors in the range**: Any error value inside the range makes AVERAGE return that error. - **Zeros versus blanks**: Filling empty cells with 0 changes the result. Decide which one your data really means. ## Tips and Best Practices - Compare `=COUNT(B2:B31)` with the number of rows to check how many cells AVERAGE is actually using. See [COUNT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/count-function). - The mean is sensitive to outliers. Check MEDIAN as well when a few very large values exist. - For a mean where some values matter more than others, use [AVERAGE.WEIGHTED](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageweighted-function). - To measure how spread out values are around the mean, see [AVEDEV](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/avedev-function). ## Related Functions - [AVERAGEA](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averagea-function): counts text as 0 and logical values as 1 or 0 - [AVERAGEIF](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageif-function): averages values that meet one condition - [AVERAGEIFS](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageifs-function): averages values that meet several conditions - [AVERAGE.WEIGHTED](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/averageweighted-function): weighted mean - [SUM](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/sum-function) and [COUNT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/count-function): the two halves of an average ## Example use case A store manager logs daily revenue in column B. Using =AVERAGE(B2:B31) they get the mean daily revenue for the month, and days where the store was closed (left blank) are automatically excluded instead of being counted as zero. ## Need more help with Google Sheets formulas? Sign up for Better Analyst and get unlimited AI-powered formula generation, explanations, and advanced data analysis. [Create Free Account](https://betteranalyst.com/signup)[Try Formula Generator](https://betteranalyst.com/excel-ai) ## Google Sheets how-to guides - [How To Unhide Columns In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-unhide-all-columns-in-google-sheets) - [How To Unhide Rows In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-unhide-all-rows-in-google-sheets) - [How To Unprotect Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-unprotect-google-sheets) - [How To Wrap Text In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-wrap-text-in-google-sheets) - [Google Sheets Conditional Formatting](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/google-sheets-conditional-formatting) - [How To Add A Column In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-add-a-column-in-google-sheets) - [How To Alphabetize In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-alphabetize-in-google-sheets) - [How To Autofit In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-autofit-in-google-sheets) ## Explore all Google Sheets formulas Browse our complete library of Google Sheets formula guides Compare your options ## Decide with evidence, not a sales pitch. 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