Median Absolute Deviation Calculator
Calculate the median absolute deviation (MAD), median, sorted data, and absolute deviations from a dataset. MAD is a robust measure of spread that is less sensitive to outliers than variance-based measures.
Enter values separated by commas, spaces, or line breaks.
Formula:
MAD = median(|xᵢ − median(x)|)
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Privacy: calculations run locally in your browser. No inputs are stored or transmitted.
How it works
This calculator first finds the median of the dataset, then computes each absolute deviation from that median, and finally takes the median of those absolute deviations.
Because MAD is based on medians rather than squared deviations, it is often used as a more robust measure of spread.
Examples
- 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 → median = 18
- Absolute deviations from 18 → 6, 3, 0, 3, 6
- MAD = median of those deviations = 3
When to use this tool
This tool is designed for quick, practical tasks such as everyday calculations, data formatting, or simple conversions. It is best used when you need fast results without installing software or using complex tools.
When to use
- Quick checks or one-time calculations
- Validating or converting data before using it elsewhere
- Simple tasks that do not require advanced software
When not to use
- Critical financial, legal, or medical decisions
- Large-scale or automated processing
- Situations requiring guaranteed precision beyond basic validation
Always review results before using them in important contexts.
About this tool
This tool helps you perform quick utility operations directly in your browser. It runs entirely in your browser without sending data to a server.
You can use this tool when handling simple tasks without installing additional software. The results should be interpreted as a processed output based on your input data.
FAQ
- What is median absolute deviation?
Median absolute deviation (MAD) is a robust measure of spread. It is the median of the absolute differences between each value and the dataset median.
- Why use MAD instead of standard deviation?
MAD is less sensitive to outliers, so it can be more stable when the dataset contains extreme values.
- How should I enter the data?
Enter values separated by commas, spaces, or line breaks.
- Can MAD be 0?
Yes. If many values cluster around the same median, the median absolute deviation can be 0.
- Are calculations stored?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser.