excel - How to get an average formula that omits errors

Excel - How to get an average formula that omits errors

To calculate an average in Excel while omitting errors, you can use the AGGREGATE function or a combination of AVERAGEIF and IFERROR. Here's how you can achieve this:

Using the AGGREGATE Function

The AGGREGATE function can be used to perform various operations, including calculating averages while ignoring errors.

Syntax:

AGGREGATE(function_num, options, array, [k])
  • function_num: The function number that specifies the calculation type (e.g., 1 for AVERAGE).
  • options: Specifies which values to ignore (e.g., 6 for ignoring errors).
  • array: The range of cells to perform the operation on.

Example: To calculate the average of values in range A1:A10 while ignoring errors, you can use:

=AGGREGATE(1, 6, A1:A10)
  • 1 is the function number for AVERAGE.
  • 6 tells the function to ignore errors in the range A1:A10.

Using AVERAGEIF with IFERROR

If you want to use a formula without the AGGREGATE function, you can combine AVERAGEIF with IFERROR.

Example:

  1. Handle Errors Individually: Use IFERROR to replace errors with blank values and then use AVERAGEIF to calculate the average.

    =AVERAGEIF(A1:A10, "<>#N/A")
    • "<>#N/A" is the criteria to exclude errors (e.g., #N/A). Adjust it according to the specific error values you expect.

  2. Array Formula Approach: If you want a more flexible approach, especially when dealing with various error types:

    =AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A1:A10), A1:A10))
    • Enter this formula as an array formula (Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter in older Excel versions, or just Enter in Excel 365 and Excel 2019).

    This formula works by checking if each cell in the range contains a number using ISNUMBER. If true, it includes the value in the AVERAGE calculation; otherwise, it is excluded.

Examples and Explanation:

  1. Using AGGREGATE:

    =AGGREGATE(1, 6, A1:A10)
    • This will compute the average of all numeric values in the range A1:A10 while ignoring any cells with errors.

  2. Using AVERAGEIF:

    =AVERAGEIF(A1:A10, "<>#N/A")
    • This formula computes the average for all cells that do not contain #N/A errors.

  3. Using Array Formula:

    =AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A1:A10), A1:A10))
    • This array formula calculates the average of all numeric values in the range A1:A10 while ignoring errors and non-numeric cells.

These methods should help you calculate averages in Excel while excluding errors from your calculations.

Examples

  1. How to calculate the average of a range in Excel while ignoring errors?

    • Description: This query shows how to compute the average of a range while skipping over error values.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGEIF(A1:A10, "<>#N/A")
      • Explanation: Calculates the average of the range A1:A10 while ignoring cells that contain the #N/A error.

  2. How to use AGGREGATE function to find the average excluding errors?

    • Description: Demonstrates using the AGGREGATE function to calculate an average while ignoring error values.
    • Code:
      =AGGREGATE(1, 6, A1:A10)
      • Explanation: Uses AGGREGATE function with function number 1 (average) and option 6 (ignore error values) to calculate the average.

  3. How to calculate the average of a list and exclude errors using AVERAGEIFS?

    • Description: Shows how to use AVERAGEIFS to average a list while omitting errors.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGEIFS(A1:A10, A1:A10, "<>#DIV/0!")
      • Explanation: Computes the average of A1:A10 excluding cells with the #DIV/0! error.

  4. How to use IFERROR to handle errors when averaging in Excel?

    • Description: Demonstrates how to use IFERROR to replace errors with a value before averaging.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGE(IFERROR(A1:A10, ""))
      • Explanation: Uses IFERROR to replace errors with blank values before calculating the average.

  5. How to filter out error values before calculating the average in Excel?

    • Description: Shows how to filter out errors in a range and calculate the average of valid numbers.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGE(FILTER(A1:A10, ISNUMBER(A1:A10)))
      • Explanation: Uses FILTER function to exclude non-numeric values from the average calculation.

  6. How to compute average and exclude #VALUE! errors using SUM and COUNTIF?

    • Description: Demonstrates calculating the average by summing values and dividing by the count of valid numbers, excluding #VALUE! errors.
    • Code:
      =SUM(A1:A10) / COUNTIF(A1:A10, "<>#VALUE!")
      • Explanation: Sums the range A1:A10 and divides by the count of cells that do not contain #VALUE! error.

  7. How to create an average formula that skips all error types in Excel?

    • Description: Shows how to create an average formula that skips all types of error values.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A1:A10), A1:A10))
      • Explanation: Uses ISNUMBER to filter out non-numeric values and calculate the average of the remaining numbers.

  8. How to use SUBTOTAL for averaging while ignoring errors in Excel?

    • Description: Demonstrates how to use SUBTOTAL function to average a filtered range, ignoring errors.
    • Code:
      =SUBTOTAL(101, A1:A10)
      • Explanation: Uses SUBTOTAL with function number 101 (average) to calculate the average, ignoring hidden rows (errors are considered hidden if filtered out).

  9. How to handle #REF! errors while calculating the average in Excel?

    • Description: Shows how to compute the average excluding #REF! errors specifically.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGEIFS(A1:A10, A1:A10, "<>#REF!")
      • Explanation: Calculates the average of A1:A10 excluding cells with #REF! errors.

  10. How to average a column in Excel excluding all error types using array formulas?

    • Description: Demonstrates how to use array formulas to average a column while excluding all error types.
    • Code:
      =AVERAGE(IF(ISNUMBER(A1:A10), A1:A10))
      • Explanation: An array formula that uses ISNUMBER to filter out cells with errors and compute the average of valid numbers. Confirm with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

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