Skip to main content

How to average absolute values in Excel?

If you have a list of values which contain both positive numbers and negative numbers, and now, you want to calculate the average of the absolute values of these numbers in the worksheet. Do you have any good ideas to solve this problem?

Average absolute values in Excel with a helper column

Average absolute values in Excel with formulas

Average absolute values with Kutools for Excel good idea3


Average absolute values in Excel with a helper column

Generally speaking, you may use the ABS function to get the absolute values of all the numbers, and then apply AVERAGE function to calculate the result. Please do as follows:

1. Next to your data, enter this formula: =ABS(A2), see screenshot:

doc-average-abs-values1

2. Then drag the fill handle over to the range that you want to apply this formula, and all the values have been converted to the absolute values. See screenshot:

doc-average-abs-values1

3. Then, you can apply the AVERAGE function by type =AVERAGE(B2:B13) (B2:B13 is the range you want to calculate their average) into a cell to get the average of these absolute values, see screenshot:

doc-average-abs-values1


Average absolute values in Excel with formulas

Maybe the above method is a little troublesome, here are some simple formulas also can help you.

1. Enter this array formula: =AVERAGE(ABS(A2:A13)) into a blank cell next to the data, see screenshot:

doc-average-abs-values1

2. Then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to calculate the result.

doc-average-abs-values1

Note: If you want to ignore 0 or blank cells when average the absolute values, you can use this array formula: =AVERAGE(IF(A2:A13<>"",ABS(A2:A13))), and remember to press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.


Average absolute values with Kutools for Excel

With Kutools for Excel's Change Sign of Values utility, you can change all negative values into positive first and then apply =AVERAGE function to get the average.

Kutools for Excel, with more than 300 handy functions, makes your jobs more easier. 

After free installing Kutools for Excel, please do as below:

1. Select the values and then click Kutools > Content > Change Sign of Values. See screenshot:
doc ket 1

2. In the popped out dialog, check Change all negative values to positive option . See screenshot:
doc ket 2

3. Then select a blank cell to type =AVERAGE(L1:L15) (L1:L15 is the values you want to get average) and press Enter to get the average.
doc ket 3


Related articles:

How to average cells ignoring error values in Excel?

How to average only positive or negative numbers in Excel?

How to average a range of data ignoring zero in Excel?

How to calculate average without max and min values in Excel?

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...

Description


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!
Comments (2)
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thanks for the helpful article. Interesting that =AVERAGEIF($A$5:$A$1000,$A8,ABS($AH$5:$AH$1000)) gives an error, while =AVERAGE(IF($A$5:$A$1000=$A8,ABS($AH$5:$AH$1000))) does not. Is it that because AVVERAGEIF is expecting only a cell reference range?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
You are right.
There are no comments posted here yet
Please leave your comments in English
Posting as Guest
Rate this post:
0   Characters
Suggested Locations