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RSD Calculator (Relative Standard Deviation)

Calculate Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) and Coefficient of Variation (CV) from a data set.

Last updated: 2/3/2026

The Relative Standard Deviation (RSD), also known as the Coefficient of Variation (CV), measures the dispersion of a frequency distribution. It is often expressed as a percentage.

Calculator Inputs

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Results

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How It Works

Enter your dataset. We calculate the Standard Deviation (SD) and Mean (Average). The RSD is then calculated as (SD / Mean) * 100.

Worked Examples

Dataset: 10, 12, 11

Mean:(10+12+11)/3= 11
Standard Deviation:Calculated= 1.0
RSD:(1.0 / 11) * 100= 9.09%

Tips & Best Practices

  • A lower RSD indicates better precision (data points are closer to the mean).
  • RSD is useful for comparing the spread of two different datasets with different means.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RSD formula?

RSD = (Standard Deviation / Mean) × 100%.

Why use RSD instead of Standard Deviation?

Standard Deviation is absolute. RSD is relative, allowing you to compare precision across different magnitudes of data.