Variance measures how far each number in a dataset is from the mean, and thus from every other number. It's the average of squared differences from the mean.

Why square the differences?

Squaring ensures all differences are positive (preventing cancellation) and gives more weight to outliers. Standard deviation takes the square root to return to original units.

Population vs Sample variance?

Population variance divides by N (total count). Sample variance divides by N-1 (Bessel's correction) to provide an unbiased estimate of population variance.

What is coefficient of variation?

CV = (SD / Mean) × 100%. It expresses variability as a percentage of the mean, useful for comparing variability across datasets with different units or scales.

How does variance relate to SD?

Standard deviation is the square root of variance: SD = √Variance. SD is in the same units as the original data, making it more interpretable.

Variance Calculator

Calculate variance, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation.

Enter Your Data

8 values

1012232316232116

Type

Deviations from Mean

Sample Variance

0

s² = Σ(xᵢ - μ)² / (N-1)

Variance

Std Dev

Mean

Calculation Breakdown

Sum of Squares

Divisor

Variance

Documentation

Understanding Variance

Variance quantifies the spread of data points. A higher variance indicates data is more spread out from the mean; lower variance indicates data is clustered closely.

Population

Sample

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use

About the Variance

What it calculates

This variance solves mathematical and statistical problems using standard formulas. Calculate variance and standard deviation for datasets.

When to use it

Use for homework, data analysis, exam prep, or quick verification of manual calculations.

Example

Adjust the inputs above to model your specific scenario with the Variance.

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Variance Calculator

Enter Your Data

Type

Deviations from Mean

0

Calculation Breakdown

Understanding Variance

About the Variance

Related Calculators

Correlation

Mean, Median, Mode

Percentile

Standard Deviation

ANOVA (One-Way)

Bayes Theorem Calculator