How to Calculate Batting Average – Formula

Calculating Batting Average: Step-by-Step Guide

The best way to calculate batting average is to get a hit every time you’re at bat. Ok, we’re not very funny, but how can we talk about this subject without being a little cocky. After all, we all dream about being a .300 hitter right?

But seriously, batting avg. is something that everybody knows what it is, but not everybody knows how to calculate. Before we get to the actual math (formula) of this equation, we’d like to simplify what we’re talking about for those that truly don’t know what “BA” is. It is simply a measuring tool that tells you how often a hitter gets a base hit in a percentage style format. If a player hits .342, (which would be a very high batting average) this means he gets a base hit 34.2% of the time. If a batter is hitting .200, (aka: “The Mendoza Line”) this means he gets a base hit 20% of the time. Just move the decimal point over to the right two spots to figure out what percentage the hitter successfully gets a base knock (hit) out of all the times he has had an at bat.

It should also be noted that if a hitter takes a “walk” or base on balls (same thing,) gets hit by a pitch (HBP), hits a sacrifice fly or executes a sacrifice bunt, those do NOT figure into the player’s average in any way, shape or form. It should also be noted that if a hitter gets on base via a fielding error or fielder’s choice, it is counted as a failure to get a base hit and goes negatively against the player’s average.

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Batting Average Formula

Ok, now what you’ve been waiting for.. The formula to calculate a hitter’s batting average:

The Calculation: Add up your hits. Divide this number by your total at bats. This will provide you with your batting average. Example:

Let’s say you have 600 at bats on the season. Out of those 600 at bats you reached base successfully via a hit 200 times. We would take the 200 and divide it by 600. We get .33333333333 (goes on forever) You only pay attention to the first 3 decimal spots (thousandths) which gives you a batting average of .333, which also means you get a base hit 33.3% of the time. While a .333 average is very common in high school ball and college baseball, it’s an amazing feat if you’re a major league ball player and you’d probably lead the league in hitting if you pulled it off. Speaking of which, we’ll leave you with an idea of what the good, bad and ugly batting averages are, relative to the major leagues.

An average of .200 or lower is horrible. This average or less is usually reserved for pitchers who are not known for their hitting or players that don’t belong in the big leagues. A hitter that bats .250 to .275 is fairly average. Hitting .280 to .300 would be considered a good hitter and .300 or more is considered exceptional. Keep in mind these are relative to big league standards. High school and college numbers can be off the charts as the level of competition is so skewed that it gives us all kinds of odd numbers. The NCAA hitting champion usually hits in the mid-400’s.  Put on a level playing field, numbers run consistent once players make it to the big show.

Related: How to Calculate ERA

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Highest MLB Batting Averages of All-Time

  • Ty Cobb .366
  • Rogers Hornsby .358
  • Joe Jackson .356
  • Ed Delahanty .346
  • Tris Speaker .345
  • Billy Hamilton .344
  • Ted Williams .344
  • Dan Brouthers .342
  • Harry Heilmann .342
  • Babe Ruth .342
  • Bill Terry .341
  • Pete Browning .341
  • Willie Keeler .341
  • Lou Gehrig .340
  • George Sisler .340
  • Tony Gwynn .348

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