Average and ignore errors

We can use the AVERAGEIF or AGGREGATE function to find the average of a list of values while ignoring any errors that might exist in the data. The steps below will walk through the process.

Figure 1- Final result of the AVERAGEIF function

General Formula

=AVERAGEIF(values, “>=0”)

Formula

=AVERAGEIF(B5:B14, “>=0”)

Setting up the Data

Our objective is to find the average of the list of values while ignoring all errors in the data.

• The list of values will be entered in the range B5:B14
• Cell F4 and F5 will contain the result after applying the AVERAGEIF function and AGGREGATE function respectively.

Figure 2 – Setting up the Data

Applying the AVERAGEIF function

• We will click on Cell F4
• We will insert the formula below into Cell F4
  =AVERAGEIF(B5:B14, “>=0”)

Figure 3- How to use the AVERAGEIF function

• We will press the enter key

Figure 4- Result of applying the AVERAGEIF function

Using the Alternate AGGREGATE function

• We will click on Cell F5
• We will insert the formula below into Cell F5
  =AGGREGATE(1,6,B5:B14)

Figure 5- How to use the AGGREGATE function

• We will press the enter key

Figure 6- Result of using the AGGREGATE function

Explanation

• AVERAGEIF function

=AVERAGEIF(values,">=0")

The term “values” represents the range of the data: B5:B14. AVERAGEIF returns the average of the values that are greater than or equal to zero in the specified range, thus, filtering out any errors in the data.

• AGGREGATE function

=AGGREGATE(1,6,values)

“1” specifies average while “6” represents the option to ignore errors. Like the AVERAGEIF function, the AGGREGATE function also returns with the same answer.

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Are you still looking for help with the Average function? View our comprehensive round-up of Average function tutorials here.