Range Calculator
Find the spread between the largest and smallest values in a data set.
What the Range Calculator does
The range is the simplest measure of spread: largest minus smallest. It is easy to read but fragile, since a single extreme value dominates it. The interquartile range, covering the middle half of the data, is far more robust.
Formula
Range = Maximum − MinimumMidrange = (Max + Min) ÷ 2
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | text | Yes | Separate values with commas, spaces or new lines. |
How to use it
- Enter Numbers.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Daily temperatures of 12, 15, 19, 22 and 14 °C.
- Numbers
- 12, 15, 19, 22, 14
Range = 22 − 12 = 10 °C.
Reading the result
- The range uses only two values out of the whole data set, so it says nothing about how the rest are distributed.
- It can only grow as more data arrives, which makes it unstable for comparing samples of different sizes.
Common mistakes
- Treating the range as a measure of typical spread. One outlier sets it entirely.
- Comparing ranges across data sets of different sizes, where the larger sample almost always shows the wider range.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the range a weak measure of spread?
It uses only two data points and ignores everything in between, so one typo or outlier can multiply it.