Midrange Calculator
Find the midrange of a data set — the midpoint between the smallest and largest value — along with the minimum, maximum and range.
How it works
Midrange = (minimum + maximum) ÷ 2 · Range = maximum − minimum
The midrange is the average of the smallest and largest values — the exact centre of the data’s span. It is the quickest measure of central tendency to compute, needing only the two extremes, but that is also its weakness: because it ignores everything between the endpoints, a single unusually high or low value drags it far off the true centre. It is best used as a rough summary or alongside more robust measures like the median.
Worked example
For 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 the minimum is 4 and the maximum is 42, so the midrange is (4 + 42) ÷ 2 = 23 and the range is 42 − 4 = 38. Note the median of this set is only 15.5 — the single large value 42 pulls the midrange well above the middle of the data.
Sources: Mid-range — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
How is the midrange different from the median?
The median is the middle value once the data is sorted and is barely affected by extremes, while the midrange is the average of only the two extreme values and is highly sensitive to them. They agree for symmetric data but can differ sharply when outliers are present.
When is the midrange useful?
It is handy as a fast, back-of-the-envelope centre — for example, the midpoint of a temperature range or a price band. For serious analysis the mean or median is preferred, because the midrange throws away all the information between the endpoints.
Can the midrange lie outside the bulk of the data?
Yes. If most values cluster low but one is very high, the midrange sits between the cluster and the outlier, potentially in a region where no data points actually fall. That is exactly why it is a fragile measure of centre.
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For education — check assumptions (sample size, distribution) before using statistics in real decisions.