The Excel AVERAGEA function averages values just like AVERAGE, but it also counts text (as 0) and logical values (TRUE as 1, FALSE as 0) — useful when blanks and labels should pull the mean down.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
value1 | Required | The first value, cell, or range to average. |
value2, ... | Optional | Up to 254 more values. Text counts as 0; TRUE as 1; FALSE as 0; empty cells are still ignored. |
How to use it
AVERAGEA differs from AVERAGE in how it treats non-numbers. Numbers behave normally, but text strings are read as 0 and logical values as 1 (TRUE) or 0 (FALSE) — all of which are counted in the divisor.
Truly empty cells are still ignored, exactly as with AVERAGE. The behaviour only changes for cells that contain something non-numeric.
Watch the divisor: because text and FALSE count as 0 but still add to the count, AVERAGEA almost always returns a lower mean than AVERAGE over the same data. Use plain AVERAGE unless you specifically want labels treated as zeros.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a AVERAGEA example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How does AVERAGEA handle text?
"" — is treated as 0 and counted in the divisor, which lowers the average compared with AVERAGE.How are TRUE and FALSE treated?
1 and FALSE as 0. Both are included in the count of values.Does AVERAGEA count empty cells?
When should I use AVERAGEA instead of AVERAGE?
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