Coefficient of Variation Calculator
By Santaji GadepatilinUpdated October 27, 2026
6 numbers — separate with commas, spaces or new lines
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Edit the numbers above — results update as you type.
How to use this calculator
Paste your measurements. The coefficient of variation, standard deviation and mean are calculated.
Formula
CV = s ÷ x̄ × 100%
Worked example
Six repeat measurements: 98.2, 101.5, 99.8, 100.4, 100.9, 99.1
- Mean = 99.983
- s = 1.209
- CV = 1.21%
Comparing different scales
A bolt varying by ±0.1 mm on 10 mm (CV 1%) is relatively less consistent than a beam varying by ±5 mm on 6 m (CV 0.08%), even though 5 mm is a bigger number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the coefficient of variation?
The standard deviation divided by the mean, as a percentage. It shows variability relative to the size of the values.
When is it useful?
Comparing the spread of data sets with different units or very different means, such as lab precision or investment risk.
Is there a good CV value?
It depends on the field. In analytical labs, a CV under 2–5% often indicates good precision.