Median calculator
Calculator
The calculator needs JavaScript. The tables below give the same numbers for common cases.
How it is worked out
- Sort the numbers: 3, 4, 7, 9, 12.
- There is an odd count, so the median is the middle value: 7.
| Inputs | Answer |
|---|---|
| Numbers: 7, 3, 9, 4, 12 | The median of 5 numbers is 7. |
| Numbers: 1 2 3 4 | The median of 4 numbers is 2.5. |
| Numbers: 85, 90, 78, 92, 88, 90 | The median of 6 numbers is 89. |
How to use it
The median is the middle value of a sorted list. With an odd count it is the middle number; with an even count it is the average of the two middle numbers. Unlike the mean, it is not pulled by one extreme value.
The calculator sorts your numbers, shows them and explains which case applies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median of 7, 3, 9, 4, 12?
Sorted: 3, 4, 7, 9, 12. The middle value is 7.
What if there is an even count?
Average the two middle values: for 1, 2, 3, 4 the median is 2.5.
When is the median better than the mean?
When the data has outliers, such as incomes or house prices.
Method: standard arithmetic shown step by step; no outside data is used. Checked 2026-11-12.
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
General information only. Results are plain arithmetic on the numbers you enter; check anything important (money, health, school work) against your own records or the official source.