Excel AVEDEV Function

The AVEDEV function returns the average of the absolute deviations of the numbers provided from their mean. It is a measure of the variability of the given numbers.

Syntax

=AVEDEV (number1, [number2], ...)

Arguments

Return value

The AVEDEV function returns a numeric value.

Function notes

1. The equation for average deviation is:

   

2. Arguments in the AVEDEV function can be supplied as numbers or names, arrays, or references that contain numbers. Up to 255 arguments are allowed.
3. AVEDEV function can count the Logical values and text representations of numbers (numbers enclosed with quotation marks, says “10”) that you type directly into the list of arguments.
4. AVEDEV function ignores empty cells or cells that contain text or logical values.
5. Cells with zero values will be included in the calculation.
6. The #NUM! error value occurs if all supplied arguments are non-numeric.
7. The #VALUE! error value occurs if any of the supplied arguments you typed directly in the function are text strings that cannot be interpreted as numbers by Excel.

Examples

To calculate the average of the absolute deviations of the numbers provided from their mean in the below table, please copy the formulas below into cell E6 and press the Enter key to get the result.

=AVEDEV (C6:C11)

Notes:

1. The argument in the above formula is supplied as a range that contain multiple values.
2. We can directly input values in the arguments of the formula. The formula above can be changed to:

   =AVEDEV (74, 61, 64, 79, 70, 66)

3. We can also use cell references as arguments of the formula. The formula above can be changed to:

   =AVEDEV (C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11)

Relative Functions:

• Excel DEVSQ Function
  The DEVSQ function calculates the sum of squares of the deviations from the sample mean.

• Excel DSTDEV Function
  The DSTDEV function returns the estimated value of the standard deviation of a population based on a sample.

• Excel DSTDEVP Function
  The Excel DSTDEVP function returns the standard deviation of a population by using the numbers from the entire database that match the given criteria you specify.