Langford Analytic · Knowledge Base

Coefficient of Variation Calculator

Calculate the coefficient of variation (CoV) from mean and standard deviation. Shows the equation, substitution and result as a percentage.

Probabilistic & Reliability2 min read
calculatorcoefficient of variationCoVscatterdimensionless

Calculator

CoV = sigma / mu * 100%

where:
  CoV = coefficient of variation [%]
  sigma = standard deviation
  mu = mean (must be non-zero)

Enter sigma and mu to compute CoV.

Assumptions

  • The mean is non-zero
  • The variable is positive-valued (CoV is meaningful for positive variables)

Limitations

The CoV is undefined for variables with zero mean. It is most meaningful for positive-valued variables. For variables that can be negative, the CoV can be misleading.