How to use the Mode Calculator
Paste numbers separated by commas, spaces or new lines. The calculator counts how often each value appears and returns the most frequent one, or several if they tie.
Worked example
For shoe sizes 8, 9, 9, 10, 9 and 11, size 9 appears three times, more than any other, so the mode is 9. If 9 and 10 both appeared three times, the data would have two modes and be called bimodal. If every value appears once, there is no mode.
When the mode is the right average
The mode is the only average that works for categories, like the most popular colour or the most common answer in a survey. Shops use it to decide which sizes to stock most of. For numbers that rarely repeat, the mean or median usually tells you more.
The formula
Mode = the value or values that occur most often
Examples
- All values unique
Mode(s): 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
- 3, 7, 7, 9, 12, 7, 9
Mode(s): 7
- Two modes: 1, 1, 2, 2, 3
Mode(s): 1, 2
Limitations and assumptions
Works best with repeated values. With continuous measurements, such as weights to two decimals, few values repeat and the mode says little.
Frequently asked questions
What is the mode?
The most frequent value in a data set.
Can there be two modes?
Yes, a bimodal set has two values with the highest count.
Mode, mean or median?
The mode suits categories and repeated values; the mean and median suit measurements.
What if no value repeats?
Every value ties, so the set has no useful mode.