Mean Absolute Deviation Calculator
Calculate the mean absolute deviation of a data set from its mean.
What is MAD?
The mean absolute deviation is the average distance between each value and the mean — Σ|x − mean| ÷ n. It reports spread in the same units as the data, like the standard deviation, but it does not square anything first, so a single far-out value distorts it far less.
How it works
After the mean is computed, every deviation is made positive and averaged. The individual distances are listed rather than summarised, because the definition is the step people get wrong: the signed deviations always sum to exactly zero, and it is the absolute values that carry the information.
- Enter your input. Type or paste your input into the field above — the tool responds instantly.
- Review the result. Output updates live as you type. Everything runs entirely in your browser.
- Copy or download. Use the Copy button to grab the result, or Download to save it as a file.
Examples
Realistic sample
Type or paste any realistic input — the tool computes the result locally and instantly.
Common mistakes
Expecting a server round-trip
Nothing is uploaded — every tool in this category runs entirely in your browser.