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
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.