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MEDIAN Function

Excel 2007+, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 365

Summary

The Excel MEDIAN function returns the middle value from a set of numbers, providing a robust measure of central tendency that's less affected by extreme values than the arithmetic average. Perfect for skewed datasets and statistical analysis.

Syntax

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

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
number1	`Number/Reference`	Yes	Required. First number, cell reference, or range containing numeric values.
[number2], ...	`Number/Reference`	No	Optional. Up to 254 more numbers or ranges (255 total arguments allowed).

Using the MEDIAN Function

MEDIAN excels in statistical analysis where outliers might skew the arithmetic mean. It automatically sorts values and finds the central position - the exact middle for odd counts, or average of two middle values for even counts. Use it for salary analysis, test scores, or any dataset where extremes shouldn't dominate the center measure.

Common MEDIAN Examples

Basic Odd Count Median

=MEDIAN(A2:A6)

For values 1,2,3,4,5 returns 3 (third position). Median unaffected by extremes.

Even Count Median

=MEDIAN(A2:A7)

For values 1,2,3,4,5,6 returns 3.5 (average of 3rd and 4th positions).

Mixed Direct Values and Range

=MEDIAN(10,20,B2:B10,50)

Combines direct numbers with range values, ignores non-numeric cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

MEDIAN averages the two middle numbers after sorting. For 1,2,3,4 it returns (2+3)/2 = 2.5.

Yes, empty cells, text, and logical values in ranges are automatically ignored.

AVERAGE uses arithmetic mean (sensitive to outliers), MEDIAN uses middle value (outlier resistant).

Common Errors and Solutions

#VALUE! error

Cause: Arguments contain error values or unconvertible text

Solution: Remove error cells or use IFERROR to handle them

#DIV/0! error

Cause: All arguments are empty or contain only ignored values

Solution: Ensure at least one valid numeric argument

Notes

MEDIAN sorts values internally before finding center
Zero values are always included (unlike empty cells)
Directly typed TRUE/FALSE count as 1/0
Up to 255 arguments supported since Excel 2007
Excellent for boxplot analysis and five-number summaries

Compatibility

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

Not available in:

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 365