How to Calculate an Average in Google Sheets
Type =AVERAGE(A2:A) to get the mean of every number in column A. Blank cells are ignored automatically; only real numbers are counted.
=AVERAGE(A2:A)
Averages all numbers in the range. Text and empty cells are skipped, but cells containing 0 ARE counted.
How it works
AVERAGE adds every number in the range and divides by how many numbers there are. Empty and text cells are ignored, so an open-ended range like A2:A is safe. If you need to average only rows that meet a condition, use AVERAGEIF. To exclude zeros, filter them out with AVERAGEIF and a <>0 criterion.
Variations
Average only rows that match a condition
=AVERAGEIF(B2:B,"Yes",A2:A)
Averages column A only where column B equals Yes.
Average ignoring zeros
=AVERAGEIF(A2:A,"<>0")
Counts only non-zero numbers, so empty-looking data won't drag the mean down.
Average the top of the range only
=AVERAGE(A2:A100)
Fix the end row when you don't want later additions included.
Examples
| Scenario | Formula |
|---|---|
| Average test score | =AVERAGE(B2:B) |
| Average sales for one region | =AVERAGEIF(A2:A,"West",C2:C) |
FAQ
Does AVERAGE count empty cells?
No. Blank and text cells are ignored, so the divisor is only the count of real numbers. Cells that contain 0, however, are counted.
How do I average with a condition?
Use AVERAGEIF, e.g. =AVERAGEIF(B2:B,"Yes",A2:A) averages column A only for rows where B is Yes.
How do I stop zeros from lowering my average?
Use =AVERAGEIF(A2:A,"<>0") to average only the non-zero numbers.