How to Calculate Mean and Standard Deviation with Excel 2007

This updated guide explains how to Calculate Mean and Standard Deviation with Excel 2007 through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Adding Data

Open Microsoft Excel. Click or double-click the Excel app icon, which resembles a green "X" on a green-and-white background.
- If you already have an Excel document that contains your data, double-click the document to open it in Excel 2007, then skip ahead to finding the mean.
Select a cell for your first data point. Click once the cell in which you may need to enter your first number.
- Be sure to select a cell in a column that you may need to use for the rest of your points.
Enter a number. Type in one of your data points' numbers.
Press ? Enter. Doing so will both enter the number into your selected cell and move your cursor down to the next cell in the column.
Enter each of the rest of your data points. Type in a data point, press Enter , and repeat until you've entered all of your data points in the same column. This will make it easier to calculate the mean and the standard deviation of the list.

Finding the Mean

Click an empty cell. Doing so places your cursor in the cell.
Enter the "mean" formula. Type =AVERAGE( ) into the cell.^{[1]XResearch source}
Place your cursor in between the parentheses. You can press the left arrow key once to do this, or you can click in between the two parentheses in the text box at the top of the document.
Add your data range. You can input a range of data cells by typing the name of the first cell in the list of data, typing a colon, and typing in the last cell name in the column. For example, if your list of numbers goes from cell A1 through cell A11 , you would type in A1:A11 in between the parentheses.
- Your completed formula should look something like this: =AVERAGE(A1:A11)
- If you may need to calculate the mean of a few numbers (not a whole range), you can type each number's cell name between the parentheses and separate the names with commas. For example, to find the mean of A1 , A3 , and A10 , you would type in =AVERAGE(A1,A3,A10).
Press ? Enter. Doing so will run your formula, causing the mean of your selected values to display in your currently selected cell.

Finding the Standard Deviation

Click an empty cell. Doing so places your cursor in the cell.
Enter the "standard deviation" formula. Type =STDEV( ) into the cell.^{[2]XResearch source}
Place your cursor in between the parentheses. You can press the left arrow key once to do this, or you can click in between the two parentheses in the text box at the top of the document.
Add your data range. You can input a range of data cells by typing the name of the first cell in the list of data, typing a colon, and typing in the last cell name in the column. For example, if your list of numbers goes from cell A1 through cell A11 , you would type in A1:A11 in between the parentheses.
- Your completed formula should look something like this: =STDEV(A1:A11)
- If you may need to calculate the standard deviation of a few numbers (not a whole range), you can type each number's cell name between the parentheses and separate the names with commas. For example, to find the standard deviation of A1 , A3 , and A10 , you would type in =STDEV(A1,A3,A10).
Press ? Enter. Doing so will run your formula, causing the standard deviation value for your selected values to display in your currently selected cell.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Calculate Mean and Standard Deviation with Excel 2007?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.