Coefficient of Variation Calculator
Compare spread between datasets measured in different units — CV divides standard deviation by the mean so you can judge relative variability at a glance.
Coefficient of variation (%)
10.51
Breakdown
- Mean
- 13.88
- Sample standard deviation
- 1.46
- Sample variance
- 2.13
- Standard error of the mean
- 0.52
- Count (n)
- 8
- Minimum
- 12
- Maximum
- 16
- Range
- 4
- Interpretation
- Moderate variability
Last updated:
FAQ
When should I use CV instead of standard deviation?
Use standard deviation when values share the same unit and similar scale. Use CV when comparing variability across different units or magnitudes — blood-pressure mmHg vs weight kg, or stock A at 200 vs stock B at 20. CV normalizes the spread by the mean, so scale drops out.
Why is CV undefined for a zero mean?
CV divides by the mean, and dividing by zero has no meaning. Data centered near zero — like Celsius temperature fluctuations — produce exploding or negative CVs. In those cases absolute measures like MAD are the honest choice.
Is this sample or population CV?
This calculator uses the sample standard deviation (dividing by n−1), which is the safe default when your numbers are a sample from a larger process. For a complete population, the difference shrinks as n grows — under 1% once you have 30+ values.
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