Coefficient of Variation Calculator
Enter a series of numbers to compute the coefficient of variation, sample standard deviation, and mean.
Coefficient of Variation
28.78%
Mean (μ)
19.5000
Sample Std. Dev. (s)
5.6125
Observation count: 6
CV is expressed as a percentage and uses the sample standard deviation.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the values of your dataset (any scale or units).
- Review the mean and sample standard deviation.
- Interpret the coefficient of variation to compare relative variability between datasets.
- Lower CV indicates more consistency relative to the mean.
Formula
Mean (μ) = Σxi / n
Sample standard deviation (s) = √[Σ(xi − μ)² / (n − 1)]
Coefficient of variation (CV) = (s / μ) × 100%
CV is unitless, enabling comparisons of variability across datasets measured on different scales.
Full Description
The coefficient of variation expresses standard deviation relative to the mean. It is widely used in finance, manufacturing, and laboratory sciences to gauge process stability or measurement precision. Because it normalizes by the mean, it enables apples-to-apples comparisons when units or magnitudes differ.
Beware of using CV when the mean is near zero, as ratios can explode and lose interpretability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use sample or population standard deviation?
We use the sample standard deviation (n − 1). For full populations, replace the denominator with n.
Can CV be negative?
No. Standard deviation is non-negative, and the mean is typically positive for CV analysis.
What is a good CV value?
Interpretation depends on context; lower CV indicates more consistency relative to the mean.
Can I compare CVs across different datasets?
Yes, that is the primary purpose — especially when datasets are measured in different units or scales.