Moving Average Calculator
Smooth out short-term fluctuations in up to 8 chronological data points using a simple moving average over a chosen window.
Only the first this-many chronological periods below are used.
Your results
Simple moving average per period
| Period | Value | 3-period MA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 105 | — |
| 2 | 110 | — |
| 3 | 108 | 107.67 |
| 4 | 115 | 111 |
| 5 | 120 | 114.33 |
| 6 | 118 | 117.67 |
| 7 | 125 | 121 |
| 8 | 130 | 124.33 |
Calculation breakdown
- Simple moving average
- MA = average of the most recent N periods
Worked example
Weekly sales of 105, 110, 108, 115, 120, 118, 125 and 130 units, with a 3-period window, give a latest moving average of (118 + 125 + 130) / 3 ≈ 124.3 units.
Assumptions
- Values must be entered in chronological order (oldest first) for the moving average to be meaningful.
- A simple (unweighted) moving average is used; it lags behind sudden changes in the underlying trend.
How this calculator works
Enter up to 8 chronological values (oldest first) and a moving average window. The calculator computes the simple moving average for each period once enough history is available, plus the most recent moving average value.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the first few periods show no moving average?
A moving average needs a full window of prior data, so the first (window − 1) periods don't yet have enough history to calculate one.
What window size should I use?
Shorter windows react faster to recent changes but are noisier; longer windows smooth more but lag further behind the latest trend.
Does order matter for the values entered?
Yes, values must be entered in chronological order (oldest first) for the moving average to be meaningful.