Standard Deviation Calculator
Compute standard deviation, variance, and mean for a data set.
Quick answer
Standard deviation measures how spread out numbers are around their mean. It's the square root of the variance — the average of the squared differences from the mean. A small value means data clusters near the average; a large one means it's widely scattered.
Standard deviation (sample)
1.8708
Variance
3.5
Mean
5.5
Count
6
Spread around the mean
Standard deviation measures typical distance from the average. In roughly normal data, about 68% of values sit within one SD of the mean and 95% within two — which is why it anchors everything from test scores to quality control.
Sample vs. population
Dividing by n − 1 (Bessel's correction) compensates for the fact that a sample's own mean understates true spread. Use population mode only when your numbers are the entire group of interest, not a sample from it.
Frequently asked questions
- How does the Standard Deviation Calculator work?
- Standard deviation measures how spread out numbers are around their mean. It's the square root of the variance — the average of the squared differences from the mean. A small value means data clusters near the average; a large one means it's widely scattered.
- Is the Standard Deviation Calculator free to use?
- Yes. The Standard Deviation Calculator is completely free, runs entirely in your browser, and requires no account or sign-up. Your inputs never leave your device.
Sources & methodology
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