Quick answer
The range is the maximum minus the minimum. For 3, 9, 1, 12 it is 12 − 1 = 11.
Enter a list of numbers. The calculator returns the range.
Related tools: Interquartile Range Calculator: Interquartile range of a data set. EV Range Calculator: Driving range from battery capacity and energy consumption. Mean Median Mode Range Calculator: Mean, median, mode and range of a data set.
How to use the Range Calculator
- Type data set, for example 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Data set | Text, such as 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 | — |
Formula and method
Formula
range = max − min
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
Computed directly from the sorted or raw values.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Data set = 3, 9, 1, 12.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Range | 11 |
Example 2
Inputs: Data set = 5.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Range | 0 |
The first line is the headline result (range). IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
A simple spread
The range uses only the two extreme values, so it is sensitive to outliers and tends to grow with sample size. The interquartile range is more robust.
Uses
Quick quality checks, temperature ranges and test-score spreads. At least one value is needed; a single value has a range of 0.
Strengths and limits of the range
The range of 3, 9, 1, 12 is 12 − 1 = 11. It uses only the two extreme values, so a single outlier changes it a lot: adding 100 to the list makes the range 99.
Because it ignores everything in between, use it as a quick check and pair it with the standard deviation or interquartile range for a fuller picture of spread.
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Data set: left empty shows "Enter data set." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Range Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Interquartile Range Calculator](/statistics/interquartile-range-calculator/) | data set | IQR |
| [EV Range Calculator](/automotive/ev-range-calculator/) | usable battery capacity, energy consumption and consumption unit | Range |
| [Mean Median Mode Range Calculator](/statistics/mean-median-mode-range-calculator/) | data set | Mean |
| [Standard Deviation Calculator](/statistics/standard-deviation-calculator/) | data set and data type | Population standard deviation (σ) |
| [Z-Score Calculator](/statistics/z-score-calculator/) | value, mean and standard deviation | Z-score |
Background: descriptive statistics
Population statistics divide by n and sample statistics divide by n − 1 (Bessel's correction), because a sample tends to understate variability. Use the population version when your data is every value in the group, and the sample version when it is a subset.
Defaults differ between tools, and so do quartile conventions, which can give slightly different values for small data sets; this page states the method it uses.
Assumptions and limitations
- At least one value
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for data set to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of 5, 5, 5?
The range of 5, 5, 5 is 5 − 5 = 0, because every value is the same.
Is range the same as spread?
Range is one measure of spread; standard deviation and the interquartile range are others, and less sensitive to extreme values.
How does it relate to midrange?
Midrange is the centre of the range.
Can the range be negative?
No. The maximum is never smaller than the minimum, so the range is zero or positive, and it is zero when every value is the same.
What unit does the range have?
The same unit as the data. The range of heights in centimetres is in centimetres.
What does the Range Calculator calculate?
Range of a data set. It returns Range.
What formula does the Range Calculator use?
range = max − min. Computed directly from the sorted or raw values.
What is an example of a range result?
With data set 3, 9, 1, 12, the range is 11.
Related calculators
- Interquartile Range Calculator — Interquartile range of a data set.
- EV Range Calculator — Driving range from battery capacity and energy consumption.
- Mean Median Mode Range Calculator — Mean, median, mode and range of a data set.
- Standard Deviation Calculator — Sample or population standard deviation with variance and mean.
- Z-Score Calculator — Standardize a value using a mean and standard deviation.
- Median Calculator — Median of a data set.
Sources
- OpenStax, Introductory Statistics 2e (Rice University): measures of center and spread, correlation and regression
- NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods (nist.gov), Exploratory Data Analysis chapter
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.