Last updated: July 16, 2026
Batting Average Calculator
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Quick Answer
The batting average calculator computes batting performance for both baseball (Hits / At-Bats) and cricket (Runs Scored / Times Out). In baseball, an average of .300 is elite; in cricket, 50+ is world-class. The calculator provides performance ratings based on each sport's specific thresholds, faithfully reproducing the logic from the original MLB and MCC statistical standards.
To calculate a baseball batting average, divide the number of hits by the number of official at-bats. For cricket, divide total runs scored by the number of times the batsman was dismissed. A .300 baseball average is excellent; a cricket average above 50 is world-class.
Key Takeaways
- Baseball batting average = Hits / At-Bats; a .300 average is considered elite in MLB.
- Cricket batting average = Runs Scored / Times Out; not-out innings are excluded from the divisor.
- The scales differ significantly: cricket averages of 50+ are world-class, while baseball averages above .400 are essentially impossible in the modern era.
- Batting average alone does not capture full offensive value — combine with OBP and slugging for baseball, or strike rate for cricket.
- Sir Donald Bradman's career Test average of 99.94 is considered the greatest statistical achievement in sports history.
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Creators
Dharmendra SinghReviewers
Formula
Baseball: BA = Hits / At-Bats | Cricket: BA = Runs Scored / Times Out
Where:
- H=Hits (Baseball)(count)
- AB=At-Bats (Baseball)(count)
- R=Runs Scored (Cricket)(runs)
- NO=Times Out / Dismissals (Cricket)(count)
Worked Examples
MLB Star Season (Baseball)
A professional baseball player finishes a season with 150 hits in 500 at-bats.
- 1Identify inputs: Hits = 150, At-Bats = 500
- 2Apply formula: BA = Hits / At-Bats = 150 / 500
- 3Calculate: BA = 0.300
- 4Performance: .300 is Exceptional — elite major league level
Don Bradman Career Average (Cricket)
Sir Donald Bradman scored 6,996 runs and was dismissed 70 times in Test cricket.
- 1Identify inputs: Runs = 6996, Times Out = 70
- 2Apply formula: BA = Runs / Times Out = 6996 / 70
- 3Calculate: BA = 99.94
- 4Performance: 99.94 is Extraordinary — the greatest batting average in Test history
Rookie Batter (Baseball)
A rookie finishes their first MLB season with 80 hits in 400 at-bats.
- 1Identify inputs: Hits = 80, At-Bats = 400
- 2Apply formula: BA = 80 / 400
- 3Calculate: BA = 0.200
- 4Performance: .200 is Below Average — needs significant improvement
Introduction
The batting average is one of the most fundamental statistics in both baseball and cricket. In baseball, it measures how often a batter gets a hit per official at-bat; in cricket, it measures how many runs a batsman scores per dismissal. Despite sharing the same name, the two sports use different scales. Use our slugging percentage calculator and on-base percentage calculator alongside batting average for a complete picture of offensive performance.
Baseball Batting Average Formula
In Major League Baseball, batting average (BA) is calculated by dividing a player's number of hits (H) by their total official at-bats (AB): BA = H / AB. At-bats exclude plate appearances that result in walks, hit-by-pitches, or sacrifice bunts/flies. The result is a decimal expressed to three places — a .300 average is the benchmark for an elite hitter. According to MLB Official Rules 9.22, a batter must have at least 502 plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. For related offensive metrics, see the slugging percentage calculator and ERA calculator.
Cricket Batting Average Formula
In cricket, batting average = Runs Scored / Times Out (dismissals). Innings where a batsman is not out are excluded from the divisor, which can inflate averages. The MCC Laws of Cricket govern how dismissals are counted. Sir Donald Bradman's career Test average of 99.94 remains the greatest batting achievement in the sport. Most international batters average between 30 and 50. Compare batting averages with the bowling average calculator to evaluate all-round contributions.
Baseball Performance Ratings
In MLB: Legendary (.400+) — the .400 barrier has not been broken since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941; Exceptional (.300+) — hitting .300 qualifies as an elite hitter; Very Good (.275–.299) — strong major-league contributor; Good (.250–.274) — solid professional performance; Below Average (under .250) — may face roster challenges. According to Baseball Reference, the all-time career batting average leaders include Ty Cobb (.3664), Rogers Hornsby (.3585), and Joe Jackson (.3558).
Cricket Performance Ratings
In international Test cricket: Extraordinary (50+) — world-class, only a handful of greats sustain this; Very Good (40–49) — international-caliber performer; Good (30–39) — professional standard; Above Average (20–29) — decent contribution; Average (10–19) — specialist role; Poor (under 10) — significant improvement required. Cricinfo statistics show only Bradman (99.94), Graeme Pollock (60.97), and George Headley (60.83) have Test averages above 60.
Key Differences Between Baseball and Cricket Averages
While both sports use 'batting average,' they measure different things. Baseball BA is bounded between 0.000 and 1.000, while cricket BA is unbounded. Baseball excludes certain plate appearances (walks, HBP, sacrifices); cricket excludes not-out innings. The fielding percentage calculator provides defensive context. Format matters in cricket — T20 averages are typically lower than Test averages due to more aggressive tactics.
Limitations of Batting Average
Batting average has faced criticism for being an incomplete measure of offensive value. In baseball, it ignores walks, extra-base hits, and run production — which is why advanced metrics like OBP and SLG have become standard. In cricket, batting average does not account for strike rate or match context. Research published in the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports demonstrates that composite metrics better predict team scoring. Despite these limitations, batting average remains the most universally understood batting statistic.
Quick Reference Card
Batting Average Quick Reference
Quick reference • Batting Average Calculator
Baseball: BA = H / AB | Cricket: BA = Runs / Times OutValid range: Baseball: 0.000 to 1.000 | Cricket: 0.00 to theoretically unlimited
Common Values
⚠ Watch Out
- •Baseball walks, HBP, and sacrifice plays are NOT counted as at-bats.
- •Cricket not-out innings inflate averages — compare total innings and not-outs for context.
- •Small sample sizes (fewer than 50 at-bats or 10 innings) make averages unreliable.
- •Never compare baseball and cricket batting averages directly — they use completely different scales.
Pro Tips
- →Use OBP and SLG alongside batting average for a complete baseball offensive picture.
- →In cricket, check a batsman's strike rate alongside their average to assess overall value.
- →For career comparisons, always note the era — pre-1920 MLB averages were significantly higher.
- →In T20 cricket, batting average matters less than strike rate; in Test cricket, both are crucial.
FAQs
What is a good batting average in baseball?
In MLB, a .300 batting average is considered excellent. The league average is typically .250–.265. Any average above .300 is exceptional, .275–.299 is very good, and .250–.274 is solid. Averages below .200 are generally considered poor for everyday players.
What is a good batting average in cricket?
In Test cricket, an average of 50+ is world-class. Most successful international batters average 40–50. A career average of 30–39 is professional-standard, while 20–29 is above average. Bradman's 99.94 is the greatest statistical achievement in the sport.
Why does baseball batting average use 3 decimal places?
The three-decimal format (e.g., .300) originated in 19th century baseball to provide sufficient precision. When someone says a batter is 'hitting .300,' they mean they get a hit in 30% of official at-bats. The tradition of saying 'batting three hundred' is deeply embedded in baseball culture.
Are walks included in batting average calculations?
No. In baseball, walks (BB), hit-by-pitches (HBP), sacrifice bunts (SH), and sacrifice flies (SF) are NOT counted as official at-bats and are excluded from the batting average denominator. This is why batting average differs from on-base percentage (OBP).
What happens to not-out innings in cricket batting average?
In cricket, innings where the batsman is not dismissed are excluded from the denominator but the runs are still counted. This can significantly inflate averages. A batsman who consistently bats at the end of innings may have a high average but fewer total innings.
Who has the highest career batting average in baseball history?
Ty Cobb holds the highest career MLB batting average at .3664, followed by Rogers Hornsby (.3585) and Shoeless Joe Jackson (.3558). No player has hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941.