Median absolute deviation calculator (MAD)
Paste data to calculate a robust spread measure based on distances from the median.
Deviations from the median
| Position | Value | |x − median| |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the fields above — the result is computed on this page. | ||
How to use this page
- Paste the observations.
- Review the median and absolute deviations.
- Read MAD and the scaled version.
What this page does not do: MAD summarizes spread around the median but does not show skew direction or the complete distribution shape. Very small samples allow only a few possible values.
Further reading
Median absolute deviation, abbreviated MAD, is the median of |xᵢ − median(x)|. One very large or small observation usually changes it much less than it changes the standard deviation.
The scaled version multiplies MAD by 1.4826. For normally distributed data this makes the robust measure comparable to the standard deviation.
Frequently asked questions
How does MAD differ from mean absolute deviation?
MAD takes the median of distances from the median. Mean absolute deviation averages distances from a chosen center.
Does MAD replace standard deviation?
Not in every analysis. It is a useful robust summary, while the appropriate measure depends on the model and purpose.
See also
Beta distribution calculator
Calculate beta density, CDF, upper tail and quantile together with its mean and variance.
Chi-square test calculator
Calculate chi-square goodness of fit, independence, or a chi-square critical value.
Continuous uniform distribution calculator
Calculate density, CDF, upper tail, quantile, mean and variance for U(a,b).