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GEOMEAN Function

Excel 2007+

Summary

The Excel GEOMEAN function calculates the geometric mean of a range of positive numbers, ideal for measuring average growth rates over multiple periods like compound interest or multiplicative processes.

Syntax

GEOMEAN(number1, [number2], ... )

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
number1	`Number`	Yes	First required positive number, array, or range reference
number2, ...	`Number`	No	Optional additional positive numbers, arrays, or ranges (1 to 255 total arguments)

Using the GEOMEAN Function

GEOMEAN excels at calculating average growth rates for datasets with multiplicative changes. Unlike arithmetic mean (AVERAGE), geometric mean gives the true average rate of return for investments or population growth over time.

Common GEOMEAN Examples

Growth Rate Analysis

=GEOMEAN(B2:B8)

Calculates geometric mean of growth factors in B2:B8 (4%,5%,8%,7%,11%,4%,3%) returning 5.48% average growth rate.

Direct Values Example

=GEOMEAN(1.04,1.05,1.08,0.97,1.11)

Geometric mean of five growth rates: 4%,5%,8%,-3%,11%.

Annual Returns

=GEOMEAN(C2:C6)-1

Average annual return from yearly growth factors (subtract 1 to get percentage).

Frequently Asked Questions

GEOMEAN returns #NUM! error since geometric mean requires all positive values.

AVERAGE uses arithmetic mean (good for additive data), GEOMEAN uses geometric mean (correct for growth rates).

Yes, GEOMEAN accepts single cells, ranges, or arrays of positive numbers.

Common Errors and Solutions

#NUM! Error

Cause: One or more numbers are zero or negative

Solution: Ensure all values are positive (>0)

#VALUE! Error

Cause: Arguments contain text that can't convert to numbers

Solution: Clean data or use ranges without text

Too many arguments

Cause: More than 255 arguments provided

Solution: Use array/range references instead of individual arguments

Notes

Logical values and direct text numbers count as numbers
Empty cells and text in ranges are ignored
Zero values included but cause #NUM! error
Perfect for CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) calculations

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365

Not available in:

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+