How To Use AVERAGEIFS()

Description

Returns the average of a range depending on multiple criteria.

Common questions about the AVERAGEIFS formula:
• What is the AVERAGEIFS formula used for?
• What are the syntax rules for using the AVERAGEIFS formula?
• What are the differences between the AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS, and AVERAGE formulas?
• How do I combine multiple criteria in a single AVERAGEIFS formula?

How can the AVERAGEIFS formula be used appropriately?
• The AVERAGEIFS formula can be used to calculate the average values of a range of cells or rows based on a given set of criteria.
• The formula can be used to calculate average values that are dependent upon multiple conditions being met.
• It can be used to find the average for a given range of cells based on specific criteria from other cells.

How can the AVERAGEIFS formula be commonly mistyped?
• Omitting or misplacing parentheses in the formula.
• Confusing the spelling of the “IF”,“IFS”, and “AVERAGE” keywords.
• Forgetting to separate criteria ranges and/or criteria with commas.
• Not enclosing criteria values in quotation marks (for text values).

What are some common ways the AVERAGEIFS formula is used inappropriately?
• Entering a range of cells instead of individual criteria.
• Not correctly specifying a criteria range when multiple criteria should be used.
• Setting criteria values as absolute values instead of relative values.
• Neglecting to ensure that data ranges are the same size and intersect properly.

What are some common pitfalls when using the AVERAGEIFS formula?
• Not ensuring that criteria values are relative, not absolute.
• Evaluating incorrect data ranges.
• Failing to use the same type of data (text/numeric) in all criteria fielding comparisons.
• Not using quotation marks (for text criteria) in the criteria field.
• Forgetting to separate criteria fields with commas.

What are common mistakes when using the AVERAGEIFS Formula?
• Trying to evaluate a single cell with the AVERAGEIFS formula.
• Using criteria fields that are using different data types (text or numeric).
• Omitting quotation marks when entering text criteria values.
• Forgetting to separate the criteria ranges from the criteria values with commas.
• Not including all criteria values in the criteria range.

What are common misconceptions people might have with the AVERAGEIFS Formula?
• Thinking that the AVERAGEIFS formula only applies to numerical data. 
• Assuming that the AVERAGEIFS formula can only be used on one data set. 
• Believing that the AVERAGEIFS formula will return the mean only if all criteria are met.
• Thinking that the AVERAGEIFS formula will automatically adjust data to the correct type. 
• That the AVERAGEIFS formula will return a blank result if multiple criteria are not met.

How To Actually Use AVERAGEIFS() in Sheets

AVERAGEIFS(average_range, criteria_range1, criterion1, [criteria_range2, criterion2, ...])

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Learn more about the AVERAGEIFS() formula:

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