Range and Midrange Calculator
Calculate the range and midrange of a list of numbers.
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How to use this tool
- Enter numbers (comma-separated) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your range and the full breakdown beneath it.
Range = max − min. Midrange = (max + min) / 2. Simple measures of spread and centre.
Formula
Range = max(x) − min(x)
Midrange = (min(x) + max(x)) ÷ 2
How it works
This calculator identifies the minimum and maximum values in a list of numbers, then computes the range as their difference and the midrange as their arithmetic mean. The range measures the total spread of the data, while the midrange estimates the centre point between the two extremes. Both are sensitive to outliers since they depend solely on the two most extreme values.
Worked example
- Input numbers: 3, 7, 1, 9, 2
- Identify minimum: 1 and maximum: 9
- Range = 9 − 1 = 8
- Midrange = (1 + 9) ÷ 2 = 5
Range = 8, Midrange = 5, Min = 1, Max = 9
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing range with interquartile range (IQR). Range = max - min and is sensitive to a single extreme outlier; IQR covers only the middle 50% of data and is more robust.
- Using midrange as a robust measure of center. Midrange = (min + max)/2 is the least robust central tendency measure because it depends entirely on the two most extreme values.
- Reporting the range as a single value (e.g., 42) without indicating it is a spread measure. Range should be reported as 'from X to Y, a range of Z' to avoid confusion with the dataset's span.
Key terms
- Range
- The difference between the largest and smallest values in a dataset; measures total spread.
- Midrange
- The arithmetic mean of the minimum and maximum values; a simple measure of central tendency.
- Minimum
- The smallest value in the dataset.
- Maximum
- The largest value in the dataset.
- Outlier sensitivity
- Both range and midrange are heavily influenced by extreme values because they are defined entirely by the two most extreme data points.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between range and midrange?
- Range measures the spread of the data (largest minus smallest). Midrange is the arithmetic mean of the extreme values: (max + min) / 2. Both are sensitive to outliers, unlike the IQR and median.