Variance Calculator
Calculate sample or population variance from a list of numbers and compare their spread.
Result for the values shown.
Calculations run in your browser.
What to enter
| Input | Meaning and units |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Separate values with commas, spaces or line breaks. Use dots for decimals; at most 10,000 values. |
| Calculation mode | population/sample |
Understanding your result
These are descriptive results for the observations you entered, not proof of causation, significance or a particular population distribution.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a population denominator for a sample without intending that convention.
Check your calculation
- Try a small hand-checkable list; confirm the stated quartile/rank/denominator convention before comparing with another application.
Calculation checks, sources and review limits
How spread out are these numbers, using sample or population variance?
Calculate sample or population variance from a list of numbers and compare their spread.
Common uses
- Calculate sample or population variance from a list of numbers and compare their spread.
How it works
M2=sum((x-mean)^2); population=M2/n, sample=M2/(n-1). Use stable two-pass/Welford. Lists accept commas, semicolons, spaces or line breaks as separators; use a dot for decimals. At most 10,000 observations are supported. Calculations use floating-point arithmetic; displayed numeric results have up to 12 significant digits.
Worked example
Enter Numbers: 1, 2, 3; Calculation mode: sample. The result is Variance: 1.
FAQ
How spread out are these numbers, using sample or population variance?
M2=sum((x-mean)^2); population=M2/n, sample=M2/(n-1). Use stable two-pass/Welford. Lists accept commas, semicolons, spaces or line breaks as separators; use a dot for decimals. At most 10,000 observations are supported. Calculations use floating-point arithmetic; displayed numeric results have up to 12 significant digits.
What assumptions and limits apply?
Sample requires n>=2; retain denominator label.