Five Number Summary Calculator
Enter a list of numbers to get the minimum, Q1, median, Q3 and maximum.
This result is an estimate only. Double-check important figures before relying on them.
How it is calculated
- Sort the numbers: the minimum and maximum are the first and last
- Q1, median and Q3 are the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles
- Lower fence = Q1 − 1.5 × IQR, upper fence = Q3 + 1.5 × IQR
For only the quartiles and IQR, use the quartile calculator.
Worked example
For 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 30:
- Min 1, Q1 3, median 5, Q3 7, max 30
- Upper fence = 7 + 1.5 × 4 = 13, so 30 is a possible outlier
Why your number may differ
Different quartile methods change Q1 and Q3 slightly, and so the fences. A flagged value is only a prompt to check it, not proof of an error.
Frequently asked questions
What is the five number summary?
The minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile and maximum. Together they describe the shape of a data set and form a box plot.
What are the outlier fences?
Values below Q1 − 1.5 × IQR or above Q3 + 1.5 × IQR are usually flagged as possible outliers.
Which quartile method is used?
Linear interpolation, matching Excel QUARTILE.INC.