Coefficient of Variation Calculator: CV % with Steps

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Formula at a glance

Coefficient of Variation Calculator: Coefficient of variation — CV = (s / x̄) × 100%. Example: 7 measurements → Coefficient of variation: 17.0425% — How the Coefficient of Variation Calculator works: Coefficient of variation — CV = (s / x̄) × 100%

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📘 About the Coefficient of Variation Calculator

The coefficient of variation (CV), also called the relative standard deviation, is the standard deviation as a percentage of the mean. Because it has no units, it compares variability between data sets on different scales — the consistency of two machines, the risk of two investments per unit of return, or the precision of lab assays.

Enter your data and choose sample or population. The calculator gives the CV, the SD and mean behind it and a rough guide to whether variability is low, moderate or high.

🧮 Formula

Coefficient of variation

CV = (s / x̄) × 100%

✏️ Worked examples

7 measurements

You enter
Data	12, 15, 11, 18, 14, 16, 13
Data is a	Sample (divide by n − 1)

You get
Coefficient of variation	17.0425%
Standard deviation (sample)	2.410295378
Mean	14.14285714
As a ratio	0.170425
Spread	Moderate variability (10–20%)

CV = 17.0425%.

Monthly returns (%)

You enter
Data	2.1, 1.8, 2.5, 1.2, 3.0, 2.2
Data is a	Sample (divide by n − 1)

You get
Coefficient of variation	28.6922%
Standard deviation (sample)	0.6121002097
Mean	2.133333333
As a ratio	0.286922
Spread	High variability (20–30%)

CV = 28.6922%.

🧭 How to use this calculator

What you enter

DataSeparate numbers with commas, spaces or new lines.
Data is a

What you get

Coefficient of variation
Standard deviation (sample)
Mean
As a ratio
Spread

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is a good coefficient of variation?

In lab work a CV under 10–15% is often acceptable; in finance a lower CV means less risk per unit of return. It depends on the field.

Why use CV instead of standard deviation?

SD depends on the scale: an SD of 5 is large for a mean of 10 but tiny for a mean of 1,000. CV puts both on the same footing.

When is CV meaningless?

When the mean is close to 0 or the data can be negative (like temperatures in °C).

CV Coefficient of Variation Calculator (CV %)