# How to find the median in Excel

Use MEDIAN: `=MEDIAN(B2:B11)` returns the middle value, or the average of the two middle values for an even count.

**Excel:** `=MEDIAN(B2:B11)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home | Sale price |  | Median |
| H-01 | 285000 |  |  |
| H-02 | 312500 |  |  |
| H-03 | 298000 |  |  |
| H-04 | 1450000 |  |  |
| H-05 | 276500 |  |  |
| H-06 | 334000 |  |  |
| H-07 | 305000 |  |  |
| H-08 | 290000 |  |  |
| H-09 | 321000 |  |  |
| H-10 | 268000 |  |  |

Formula in E1: `=MEDIAN(B2:B11)`

Result: $301,500

## How it works

MEDIAN sorts the values and takes the middle. With ten homes there are two middle values, $298,000 and $305,000, so the median is their average, $301,500. The $1.45 million sale barely moves it, which is why medians are used for prices and incomes.

## Other ways

- `=AVERAGE(B2:B11)`: The mean, for comparison. (Pulled up by the one expensive home: $414,000.)

## Common mistakes

- The data doesn't need sorting; MEDIAN sorts internally.
- Blank cells and text are ignored, but zeros count. A 0 used for "unknown" lowers the median.

## Questions

**How do I find the median with a condition?**

Use FILTER inside MEDIAN: `=MEDIAN(FILTER(B2:B11,A2:A11<>"H-04"))`.

**How do I find the quartiles?**

Use `=QUARTILE.INC(B2:B11,1)` for the first quartile and 3 for the third.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/find-the-median