# AVERAGE

## Content

This function calculates the average of the specified numeric values.

## Syntax

`AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)`

## Arguments

This function has these arguments:

| Argument | Description |
| -------- | ----------- |
| *number1* | [Required] The first number, cell reference, or range for which you want the average. |
| *Number2, ...* | [Optional] Additional numbers, cell references or ranges for which you want the average, up to a maximum of 255. |

## Remarks

This function returns the arithmetic mean of the arguments.
This function differs from [AVERAGEA](/document-solutions/java-excel-api/docs/online/formula-reference/statistical-functions/averagea), which accepts text or logical values as well as numeric values.

## Examples

`AVERAGE(A1,B3,D5,E9,L8,L9)`
`AVERAGE(R1C1,R3C2)`
`AVERAGE(A1:A9)`
`AVERAGE(A1:A9,B1:B9,D5:D8)`
`AVERAGE(98,72,85)` gives the result 85