Dynamic two-way average

In this example, the goal is to create a formula that performs a dynamic two-way average of all age and gender combinations in the range B5:D16 . The solution shown requires four general steps:

1. Create an Excel Table called data
2. List unique age groups with UNIQUE function
3. List unique genders with UNIQUE function
4. Generate all averages in AVERAGEIFS function

Create the Excel Table

One of the key features of an Excel Table is its ability to dynamically resize when rows are added or removed. In this case, all we need to do is create a new table named data with the data shown in B5:D16.  You can use the keyboard shortcut Control + T.

Video: How to create an Excel table

The table will now automatically expand or contract as needed.

List unique age groups

The next step is to list the unique age groups in the "Age" column starting in cell F5. For this we use the UNIQUE function. The formula in F5 is:

=UNIQUE(data[Age]) // unique age groups

The result from UNIQUE is a spill range starting in cell F5 listing all of the unique age groups in the Age column of the table. This is what makes this solution fully dynamic. The UNIQUE function will continue to output a list of unique age groups, even as data in the table changes. 

Video: Intro to the UNIQUE function

List unique genders

Two perform a two-way average, we also need a list of unique genders starting in cell G4. We can do this with a formula like the one we used for age groups:

UNIQUE(data[Gender]) // unique genders

However, unlike age groups, we need this list to run horizontally across the top of the averages. To change the output from vertical to horizontal, we nest the UNIQUE formula in the TRANSPOSE function. The final formula in G4 is:

=TRANSPOSE(UNIQUE(data[Gender])) // horizontal array

The UNIQUE function returns a vertical array like this:

{"Male";"Female"}

And the TRANSPOSE function converts this array into a horizontal array like this:

{"Male","Female"}

Note the comma instead of semicolon in the second array. The UNIQUE function will continue to output a list of unique genders, even if data in the table changes. 

Video: What is an array?

Calculate unique averages

We now have what we need to calculate the averages. Because we have both unique age groups and unique genders on the worksheet as spill ranges, we can use the AVERAGEIFS function for this task. The formula in G5 is:

=AVERAGEIFS(data[Rating],data[Age],F5#,data[Gender],G4#)

The first argument in AVERAGEIFS is average_range. This is the range that contains numbers to average. In this example, this is the Rating column in the table:

data[Rating] // average_range

The other arguments are range/criteria pairs. The first pair targets ages:

data[Age],F5# // all ages, unique ages

The second range/criteria pair targets gender:

data[Gender],G4# // all genders, unique genders

When data changes

The key advantage to this formula approach is that it responds instantly to changes in the data. If new rows are added that refer to existing age groups and genders, the spill ranges returned by AVERAGEIFS remain unchanged, and AVERAGEIFS simply returns an updated set of averages. If new rows are added that include new age groups and/or new genders, these are captured by the UNIQUE function, which expands the spill ranges in F5 and G4 as needed. If rows are deleted from the table, spill ranges contract as needed. In all cases, the spill ranges represent the current list of unique age groups and genders, and the AVERAGEIFS function uses these values to return a current set of averages.

Pivot Table option

A pivot table would also be a good way to solve this problem, and would provide additional capabilities. However, one drawback is that pivot tables need to be refreshed to show the latest data. Formulas, on the other hand, update instantly when data changes.

Dynamic Array Training

If you need training for dynamic arrays in Excel, see our course: Dynamic Array Formulas.