When working with spreadsheets, calculating an average is rarely as simple as averaging every value in a column. In real-world data, you usually want to average numbers only when certain conditions are met—such as sales from a specific region, expenses from a certain category, or test scores above a threshold. That’s where AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS come in. Although they sound similar, these two functions serve slightly different purposes, and choosing the right one can make your formulas simpler, faster, and more accurate. In this guide, we’ll break down the difference between AVERAGEIF vs AVERAGEIFS, explain how each works in Excel and Google Sheets, and show you exactly when to use one over the other.
What Does the AVERAGEIF Function Do?
AVERAGEIF calculates the average (mean) of a range of numbers that meet a single condition. Instead of averaging all values blindly, it filters the data first, then averages only the values that match your criteria. This makes it ideal for simple conditional analysis, such as averaging sales for one product, scores above a certain value, or expenses in a single category.
Conceptually, AVERAGEIF works in three steps. First, it checks each cell in a criteria range. Second, it determines whether that cell meets the condition you specify. Third, it averages the corresponding values from another range (or the same range if you don’t specify otherwise). Because it only supports one condition, it’s easy to use and read, especially for beginners.
AVERAGEIF is supported in both Excel and Google Sheets, and the syntax is identical across platforms. That consistency makes it a great choice when you’re building templates meant to work everywhere.
What Does the AVERAGEIFS Function Do?
AVERAGEIFS extends the idea behind AVERAGEIF by allowing you to apply multiple conditions at the same time. Instead of filtering based on one rule, you can require that data meet two, three, or even dozens of criteria before it’s included in the average. This makes AVERAGEIFS more powerful and better suited for complex datasets.
With AVERAGEIFS, every condition must be true for a value to be included. For example, you might average sales amounts where the region is “West,” the salesperson is “Alex,” and the date falls within a specific month. If any one of those conditions isn’t met, the value is excluded.
Like AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS works the same way in Excel and Google Sheets. However, it’s slightly more rigid in how ranges must be structured, which is something we’ll cover later.
How Is AVERAGEIF Different from AVERAGEIFS?
The main difference between AVERAGEIF vs AVERAGEIFS is the number of conditions they support. AVERAGEIF allows one condition, while AVERAGEIFS allows multiple conditions. That difference affects not only what the functions can do, but also how readable and maintainable your formulas are.
AVERAGEIF is often the better choice when your logic is simple. It keeps formulas short and easy to understand, which is especially helpful when sharing spreadsheets with less experienced users. AVERAGEIFS, on the other hand, is designed for more advanced filtering and reporting, where multiple criteria are unavoidable.
Another key difference is syntax order. In AVERAGEIF, the criteria range comes before the average range (if you include one). In AVERAGEIFS, the average range always comes first, followed by pairs of criteria ranges and criteria. This difference can trip up users who switch between the two functions frequently.
When Should You Use AVERAGEIF Instead of AVERAGEIFS?
AVERAGEIF is best used when you only need to evaluate one condition and want to keep your spreadsheet as simple as possible. For example, if you’re averaging monthly expenses for a single category or calculating the average score above a passing threshold, AVERAGEIF is usually sufficient.
Using AVERAGEIF instead of AVERAGEIFS in these cases improves readability. Anyone reviewing your spreadsheet can immediately understand what the formula is doing without parsing multiple criteria. It also reduces the chance of errors, since there are fewer ranges and conditions to manage.
A less obvious benefit is performance. In very large datasets, AVERAGEIF can calculate slightly faster than AVERAGEIFS because it evaluates fewer conditions. While this difference is negligible for small spreadsheets, it can matter in dashboards or templates with thousands of rows and many formulas recalculating at once.
When Is AVERAGEIFS the Better Choice?
AVERAGEIFS should be your go-to option when you need to apply more than one condition to your data. If you find yourself combining multiple AVERAGEIF formulas or using helper columns just to filter data, that’s usually a sign you should switch to AVERAGEIFS.
This function shines in reporting scenarios, such as averaging revenue by region and product, tracking performance metrics across departments and time periods, or analyzing survey results with multiple filters. It allows you to express complex logic directly in a single formula, which keeps your spreadsheet cleaner and easier to maintain.
Another advantage of AVERAGEIFS is scalability. You can add more criteria without rewriting the entire formula structure. As your data grows or your reporting needs evolve, this flexibility becomes increasingly valuable.
AVERAGEIF Formula Syntax Explained
AVERAGEIF Formula Structure
The syntax for AVERAGEIF is straightforward and beginner-friendly:
AVERAGEIF(range, criteria, [average_range])
The range is where the condition is evaluated. The criteria define what must be true for a value to be included. The average_range is optional; if you omit it, Excel or Google Sheets will average the cells in the range itself.
AVERAGEIF Formula Examples
Example 1: Average sales greater than 500
AVERAGEIF(A2:A20, “>500”)
Example 2: Average order value for the “Online” channel
AVERAGEIF(B2:B20, “Online”, C2:C20)
These examples show how AVERAGEIF can handle both numeric and text-based conditions cleanly without unnecessary complexity.
AVERAGEIFS Formula Syntax Explained
AVERAGEIFS Formula Structure
The syntax for AVERAGEIFS is slightly longer but more flexible:
AVERAGEIFS(average_range, criteria_range1, criteria1, [criteria_range2, criteria2], …)
The average_range is always listed first. Each condition then comes as a pair: a criteria range followed by the criteria that must be met in that range.
AVERAGEIFS Formula Examples
Example 1: Average sales in the West region over 500
AVERAGEIFS(C2:C20, A2:A20, “West”, C2:C20, “>500”)
Example 2: Average hours worked by employees in the “Marketing” department during January
AVERAGEIFS(D2:D100, B2:B100, “Marketing”, A2:A100, “>=1/1/2025”, A2:A100, “<=1/31/2025”)
These examples illustrate how AVERAGEIFS handles multiple filters without requiring helper columns or complex logic.
What Are Common Mistakes with AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS?
One common mistake is mismatched range sizes. In both functions, all ranges must be the same size and shape. If your criteria range has 100 rows but your average range has only 99, the formula will return an error or incorrect results.
Another frequent issue is misunderstanding criteria syntax. Text criteria must be enclosed in quotation marks, while cell references should not. Comparison operators like > or <= must also be inside quotation marks unless combined with a cell reference.
Users also sometimes try to use AVERAGEIF when multiple conditions are required, leading to convoluted formulas or incorrect averages. Recognizing early when you need AVERAGEIFS can save a lot of troubleshooting later.
How Do These Functions Compare to Related Functions Like COUNTIF and COUNTIFS?
AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS are part of a broader family of conditional functions that includes COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, SUMIF, and SUMIFS. The logic behind them is very similar; the main difference is what they return. COUNTIF and COUNTIFS count matching cells, SUMIF and SUMIFS add them up, and AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS calculate their average.
Understanding this pattern makes it easier to learn new functions. If you know how AVERAGEIFS works, you already understand the structure of COUNTIFS. This consistency is especially helpful when building dashboards or templates that rely on multiple types of conditional calculations.
Are There Any Limitations or Differences Between Excel and Google Sheets?
For the most part, AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS behave the same in Excel and Google Sheets. The syntax is identical, and both platforms support the same types of criteria. However, there are a few subtle differences worth noting.
Google Sheets is more forgiving when it comes to text case and extra spaces, while Excel can be stricter depending on regional settings. Additionally, Google Sheets recalculates formulas in real time more aggressively, which can affect performance in very large files with many AVERAGEIFS formulas.
Neither function supports OR logic natively. All conditions in AVERAGEIFS use AND logic. To simulate OR conditions, you’ll need multiple formulas or more advanced approaches, such as using FILTER with AVERAGE in Google Sheets or array formulas in Excel.
What Are Some Advanced Tips Most Guides Don’t Mention?
One useful technique is combining AVERAGEIFS with dynamic criteria cells instead of hard-coded values. This allows you to build interactive dashboards where users can change dropdowns and instantly see updated averages without editing formulas.
Another overlooked tip is using AVERAGEIFS with entire columns cautiously. While it works, referencing full columns can slow down large spreadsheets. Limiting ranges to actual data rows improves performance and makes templates more efficient.
Finally, in Google Sheets, AVERAGEIFS pairs well with QUERY and FILTER for more advanced analysis. While AVERAGEIFS handles structured conditions cleanly, QUERY can sometimes replace multiple nested formulas when dealing with complex reporting logic.
How Do You Choose Between AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS?
Choosing between AVERAGEIF vs AVERAGEIFS comes down to clarity and requirements. If one condition is enough, AVERAGEIF keeps things simple and readable. If you need multiple filters, AVERAGEIFS is the clear winner. Both functions are essential tools for anyone working with spreadsheets regularly, and understanding their differences helps you build cleaner, more reliable formulas.
If you’re creating reusable templates or dashboards—like those available on Sheetrix—mastering these functions ensures your spreadsheets remain flexible, accurate, and easy to use as data grows.
