Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 30, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
William is trying to find the median of about 3,000 numbers in a column that has a range from 0.9 to 5. However, he only wants the median of numbers that are greater than 1. He can't figure out how to put that parameter into his formula and is looking for ideas.
Short of creating a user-defined function in a macro, there are a couple of ways you can go about determining the median. One method is to use an intermediate column that contains only those values above 1 and then calculate the median based on those values. You could also use an advanced filter to extract only the values above 1 and then use those values to find the median.
A better approach, however, is to use a simple array formula:
=MEDIAN(IF($A$1:$A$3000>1,A1:A3000))
When you enter this as an array formula (by using Ctrl+Shift+Enter), the result is your median value, with your criteria taken into account.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7920) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Median of Selected Numbers.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
Excel provides a handy worksheet function that allows you to forecast values based upon a set of known values. This ...
Discover MoreNeed to find the lowest numbers in a range of values? It's easy to do using the SMALL worksheet function, or you can use ...
Discover MoreWhen you use Excel as a simple database program to store individual records, you may have a need to count the records ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments