Skip to content
ENExplore Calculators

Likert Scale Mean Calculator

Work out likert scale mean instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Likert Scale Mean Calculator

A Likert mean is the response-weighted average of the scale points. With 8, 15, 40 and 25 responses at 1, 2, 4 and 5 the mean is 3.90 out of 5, and 74.7% fall in the top two boxes. The mean assumes equal spacing between points, which is why many researchers report the top-two-box percentage alongside it.

Formulas

Weighted mean

mean = sum(scale point x count) / total responses

Top two box

percent = (count at 4 + count at 5) / total x 100

Worked example

With the default values below, Likert Scale Mean Calculator returns Mean Likert Score of 3.670. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Responses at 1 (strongly disagree)minimum 0
8
Responses at 2minimum 0
15
Responses at 4minimum 0
40
Responses at 5 (strongly agree)minimum 0
25

Results

Mean Likert Score
3.670 /5
Total Responses
88
Top Two Box Agreement
73.86%
Standard Deviation
1.294

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Weighted mean
  3. 3Top two box
  4. 4Mean Likert Score= 3.670 /5
  5. 5Total Responses= 88
  6. 6Top Two Box Agreement= 73.86
  7. 7Standard Deviation= 1.294

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it valid to average an ordinal scale?

Strictly it assumes equal intervals, which is debatable. In practice Likert means are widely used, but reporting the distribution alongside them is better practice.

What does top two box add?

It reports agreement without the interval assumption, and is less sensitive to a handful of extreme negative responses dragging the mean.

Related Calculators

Likert Scale Mean Calculator – Calculate Mean Likert Score