Variance Calculator
Instantly measure how spread out your data is around the mean.
💡 Enter numbers separated by commas or spaces. Results are calculated instantly in your browser.
Variance: —
Uses the population variance formula.
Example 1
Data: 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9
Mean = 5
Variance = 4
Example 2 (Low vs High Variability)
Dataset A: 4, 5, 5, 6 → Low variance (values close to mean)
Dataset B: 1, 5, 9, 13 → Higher variance (values widely spread)
Formula
σ² = Σ (x − μ)² / N
Where μ is the mean and N is the number of values.
What is variance?
Variance measures how far each number in a dataset is from the mean. It represents the average of squared deviations.
Why use variance?
Variance helps analyze dispersion, volatility, and variability in statistics, finance, science, and research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between variance and standard deviation?
Standard deviation is the square root of variance.
Is variance always positive?
Yes. Because deviations are squared, variance cannot be negative.
Does variance depend on the mean?
Yes. Variance measures how values deviate from the mean.