averageif function in excel: function? Best 3 tiPS

How To Use The Excel Averageifs Function?

At this moment, you may be a pro at using Average in Excel but it does not end here. For multiple criteria, you can learn averageif function in excel and level up your calculations. So, do you ask how to use the Excel averageif function in excel?

In case you need to calculate average but have a group of numbers, the AVERAGEIFS function in Excel is the way to go. You can use it to average any range of cells. Such as those that are not adjacent to each other. And this is great because you will not worry about making different cells adjacent each time.

excel averageif

In this formula, all you need to do is enter the criteria for which cells you want for average calculation. This can be a great tool for sorting data or calculating averages based on specific conditions. For example, you can use it to find out the average salary for all employees who work more than 40 hours per week. And you can specify more than 40 hours criteria and eliminate manual work.



Averageif Function In Excel

What is excel averageif formula?

The AVERAGEIFS function is good to average cells based on one or more criteria. This can be useful for extracting data from large tables of information for instance. Or you can use it for calculating averages based on specific conditions. 

How to use the excel averageifs

  • Here you should start by writing  AVERAGEIFS function into a cell: =AVERAGEIFS
  • Then you will select the range of cells that you want to average.
  • Now, you can enter the first criterion and then second one.
  • And lastly, you will click Enter to calculate the average.

Examples: how to use excel averageifs function

1. As we look at our example above, if you need to find the average salary for all employees who work more than 40 hours per week, you would use the following formula: =AVERAGEIFS(B2:B11,”>40″)

2. Here another example. You can find the average test score for all students who got an A on their last test. So here, you would use the following formula: = AVERAGE IFS(C2:C17,D2:D17,”A”)

3. Or if you want to find the average number of days taken to complete a project. But it is only for only on time delivery projects, you would use the following formula: =AVERAGEIFS(E2:E25, F2:F25,”<=30″)

Tips for using the AF effectively: how to use averageif in excel

  1. When using multiple criteria, you should enclose each criterion in double quotes (” “).
  2. You can use the wildcard characters * and ? to match any character or zero or more characters respectively. For example, the criterion “>40” would match all values greater than 40. While the criterion “>4*” would match all values that begin with a 4. Such as 40, 41, 42 or etc.
  3. If one of your criteria is text, you must close it in double quotes (” “). 
  4. If you want to include cells that are blank or empty, then you will use the criteria “=” or “<>”. For example, the criterion “=*” would match all cells with value. While the “<>” would match all cells that are blank or empty.



Solution tips for averageif formula in excel: averageif function in excel

  1. Ok, it is common to get an error with the AVERAGEIFS function. And it can be a bit frustrating. But there are a few things to check before hating Excel program. First, it is a good idea to confirm if function is correct and all arguments are in parentheses. If these look good, then, you may double-check whether your criteria are wrapped in double quotes (” “).
  2. Next, verifying the range of cells is helpful. So, you should ensure if cells you want to include are actually in that range. If some values are showing up as text, that can cause issues. So enclosing those criteria in double quotes can solve that.
  3. Using wildcard characters like * (for any number of characters) and ? (for a single character) can also be useful if you need to match patterns. Also in case you want to include empty cells in your average, you can  use things like “=” or “<>” .
  4. If something still seems off, you may reach out to Excel support. So, they can provide the extra help for your AVERAGEIFS function. 

some common mistakes people make with AVERAGEIFS

  • A frequent issue is not following the correct syntax. Such as missing parentheses or commas between arguments. And hence, this can lead to errors or unexpected results.
  • Another one is forgetting to enclose text criteria in double quotes. For example, using AVERAGEIFS(range, criteria) instead of AVERAGEIFS(range, “criteria”) can cause problems.
  • If the ranges for the averages and criteria are not the same size, Excel will show an error. So, it is essential to ensure all ranges have the same number of rows and columns.
  • Including text or error values in the range when expecting numeric data can lead to inaccurate calculations or errors in averageif function in excel.
  • Some users do not know how to use wildcards (* and ?). And thiscan result in criteria not matching the intended values.
  • If you are not caring about blank cells, sorry but it can lead to confusion. Using criteria like “=” or “<>” can help include or exclude these if you need.
  • For instance, mixing data types, such as numbers stored as text can affect calculations. Hence, it is important to check the data type of cells you select.
  • Also, if you fail to test the criteria separately, this can lead to overlooking issues. So, it is better to test criteria independently before applying them in the AVERAGEIF function in excel.

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