Mean Absolute Deviation Calculator
Calculate the mean and mean absolute deviation of a dataset.
Mean absolute deviation formula
MAD is the average absolute distance of each value from the arithmetic mean. It provides an intuitive measure of spread.
Understanding Mean Absolute Deviation
Mean absolute deviation (MAD) measures the average distance between each data value and the data set mean. It is expressed in the same units as the original values, which makes it easy to interpret.
MAD Example
For values 2, 4, 6, the mean is 4. The absolute deviations are 2, 0 and 2, so the MAD is 1.333.
When MAD Is Useful
MAD is useful for describing spread without squaring deviations. Compare it with standard deviation when you want a more intuitive measure of average distance from the mean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can MAD be negative?
No. Absolute deviations are always nonnegative.
What does a low MAD mean?
The values are generally close to the mean.
Is MAD the same as standard deviation?
No. Standard deviation squares deviations before averaging.
Methodology, Assumptions and Interpretation
Mean absolute deviation is the average absolute distance from a chosen center, commonly the mean. It uses absolute rather than squared deviations, so it is less dominated by extreme values than variance, but the reference center must be stated.