Calculates the range of a dataset — the simplest measure of how spread out the values are.
How it works
The smallest value is subtracted from the largest value.
What this does not include
This does not include a measure resistant to outliers — for that, use this site’s IQR calculator instead, which ignores the extreme values entirely.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your dataset as comma-separated numbers.
A worked example
Dataset 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 → largest value 42 minus smallest value 4 = 38.
What the calculation does
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Range | Maximum value minus minimum value |
Edge cases worth knowing
A single outlier can dominate the entire result. Because range only looks at the two most extreme values, one unusually high or low entry can inflate it dramatically even when the rest of the data sits tightly together.
A range of zero means every value in the dataset is identical — the maximum and minimum are the same number.
Frequently asked questions
Why is range so sensitive to outliers?
Because it only looks at the two most extreme values — a single unusually high or low value can dramatically inflate the range even if the rest of the data is tightly clustered.
What does a range of zero mean?
Every value in the dataset is identical, since the maximum and minimum are the same.
Where is range commonly used?
Quick, at-a-glance summaries of variability, especially in small datasets where a more complex spread measure isn’t necessary.
