Coefficient of Variation (CV) Calculator

CV = σ / μ — relative variability as a percentage. Useful for comparing spread across different scales.

Inputs

Result

Loading calculator…
—

General calculation reads

Amazon affiliate
How Not to Be Wrong
Jordan Ellenberg - math thinking
Shop on Amazon
The Joy of X
Steven Strogatz - accessible math
Shop on Amazon
Scientific calculator (Casio fx-991EX)
Shop on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. This does not add cost for you.

How to use this calculator

  • Enter your data.
  • Read the CV as a percentage.

About this calculator

CV expresses standard deviation as a percentage of the mean — a unit-free measure of relative variability. Useful when comparing spread between datasets on different scales (e.g., comparing income variability across countries with different currency values).

Frequently asked

When is CV a poor choice?+
When the mean is close to zero — CV becomes unstable. For data that includes negative numbers, CV often doesn't make sense.
What's a "high" CV?+
Context-dependent. CV < 10% is often considered low variability; > 30% is high. Industry-specific benchmarks vary.
Why is CV unitless?+
Both σ and μ are in the same units, so they cancel. The ratio is pure (often expressed as a percentage).
Can I compare CVs from different fields?+
In principle yes, but interpretation should respect the underlying processes. A 10% CV in human heights vs in stock returns vs in measurement noise mean very different things.
Should I use sample or population SD for CV?+
Convention is sample SD for sample data. The calculator uses sample SD.

Related calculators

Standard Deviation Calculator
Compute sample (n−1) and population (n) standard deviation from a list of numbers.
Variance Calculator
Sample (n−1) and population (n) variance — the square of standard deviation.
Mean (Average) Calculator
Compute the arithmetic mean of a list of numbers.
Z-Score Calculator
z = (x − μ) / σ — how many standard deviations a value is above or below the mean.
Percentile Calculator
Find the value at the kth percentile in a dataset (linear interpolation).
Geometric Mean Calculator
GM = (x₁ · x₂ · ... · xₙ)^(1/n). Right "average" for ratios, growth rates, multiplicative quantities.

More tools you might like

Hand-picked tools that pair well with this one — same audience, same intent.

Standard Deviation Calculator
Calc

Compute sample (n−1) and population (n) standard deviation from a list of numbers.

Variance Calculator
Calc

Sample (n−1) and population (n) variance — the square of standard deviation.

Percentile Calculator
Calc

Find the value at the kth percentile in a dataset (linear interpolation).

Z-Score Calculator
Calc

z = (x − μ) / σ — how many standard deviations a value is above or below the mean.

Geometric Mean Calculator
Calc

GM = (x₁ · x₂ · ... · xₙ)^(1/n). Right "average" for ratios, growth rates, multiplicative quantities.

Raise Calculator
Finance

New salary and monthly increase from a percentage raise.