Summary

The Excel AVERAGEA function returns the average of a set of supplied values. Unlike AVERAGE, AVERAGEA will also evaluate the logical values TRUE and FALSE, and numbers represented as text, whereas AVERAGE ignores these values during calculation

Purpose 

Get the average of a group of numbers and text

Return value 

A number representing the average.

Syntax

=AVERAGEA(value1,[value2],...)
  • value1 - A value or reference to a value that can be evaluated as a number.
  • value2 - [optional] A value or reference to a value that can be evaluated as a number.

How to use 

The AVERAGEA function returns the average of a set of supplied values. AVERAGEA will include the logical values TRUE and FALSE, and numbers represented as text in the calculation. The AVERAGE function ignores these values during calculation

AVERAGEA takes multiple arguments in the form of value1, value2, value3, etc. up to 255 total. Arguments can include numbers, cell references, ranges, arrays, and constants. Empty cells are ignored, but zero (0) values are included. 

Examples

To average values in the range A1:A10, including logical the logical values TRUE (1) and FALSE (0) and numbers entered as text, use AVERAGEA like this:

=AVERAGEA(A1:A10) // average numbers, logicals, numbers as text

One confusing aspect of the AVERAGE function compared to the AVERAGEA function is that both functions will evaluate logicals and numbers entered as text when they are hardcoded as constants in a formula:

=AVERAGE(TRUE,2) // returns 1.5
=AVERAGEA(TRUE,2) // returns 1.5
=AVERAGE("3",2) // returns 2.5
=AVERAGEA("3",2) // returns 2.5

However, the AVERAGE function will ignore logicals or numbers entered as text when they appear in cell references. You can see this behavior in the worksheet example shown above.

Notes

  • Values can be supplied as numbers, ranges, named ranges, or cell references that contain values. Up to 255 arguments can be supplied.
  • To calculate the average, Excel adds the numeric value of each value together and divides by the total number of values supplied.
  • AVERAGEA evaluates TRUE as 1 and FALSE as zero.
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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.