Averaging only cells with data

[Randy Lefferts]

I have a column with 31 rows. In select cells, there is
a number. I want to average the numbers. How do I
average only the cells that contain data, ignoring blank
cells? Thanks!

Excel 2003

 

[Ken Russell]

It will only average the cells with numbers. Make sure the blank cells ARE
blank.

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Ken Russell

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[Frank Kabel]

Hi
=AVERAGE(A1:A31)

blank cells and strings are ignored

 

[Randy Lefferts]

Thank you for the replies

Unfortunately I may not have included enough information
since the formula "=AVERAGE(A1:31)" is generating
an "incorrect" number. I apologize for not including
pertinent information.

The column that contains the data that is to be averaged,
contains formulas to get the number(s) that I want to
average.

So instead of A1 containing just a number, it contains
the formula =(BN13-BM13)+(BP13-BO13). This is true for
each cell in the column that I want to average.

Thoughts?

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
sorry,
was just a typoe. Try.
=AVERAGE(A1:A31)

 

[Randy Lefferts]

Hi Frank,

Yes, sorry about that, that was a typo on my part.

Your formula was correct initially, just that when I used
that, it did not generate the average I was looking for.
It appears to be including the blank cells as a divisor,
as well, so that the average is quite lower than it
should be. So I reposted thinking that I left out
pertinent information that instead of actual numbers in
the cells, there were formulas calculating the numbers I
need averaged.

As an example, the numbers 7.5, 6.5, 4.5, when averaged
should equal 6.17, however it is equaling 1.32.

So, I need to find a way to average just the values that
are appearing within a set of 31 cells. If out of the 31
cells, only 6 contain data, then the numbers contained
within the 6 cells should be averaged, not the average of
31 cells with just those 6 values. If, in the 31 rows,
there are 25 cells that contain data (generated by the
formula), then I would need the average of just those 25
cells.

Sorry about not being clearer

Any chance there is a way to do the above?

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
aVERAGGE ignores empty cell. What exact values do you have in the other
cells (zeros?)

 

[Randy Lefferts]

In A1:A31, as well as other columns, there is a formula
that will produce a number based on inputs in other
cells. So currently there is a formula in the cell,
although there is not a value showing, just blank cells.
The formula hasn't produced anything yet since there are
not any entries in the input cells.

This is a timesheet that takes time in and time out (2
time in, 2 time out to cover clocking out at lunch)
converts it to hours worked and the formula in a1
calculates the hours worked for the day. So if they
don't work on a particular day, while the formula is
still in a1, it won't calculate hours worked and as such,
should remain blank, which it does.

So what is happening is it is treating it as a cell with
a value when calculating the hours worked, even though
there is not a value there.

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
I would guess the formula returns zero and this is your issue. Try for
example:
=SUMIF(A1:A31,"<>0")/COUNTIF(A1:A31,"<>0")

 

[Randy Lefferts]

Awesome, thank you very much!

This works exactly how I need it to. Thank you very much
for your time today Frank. Sorry I wasn't very clear in
the initial post.

Thanks again!