Batting Average Calculator
Hits divided by at-bats, for baseball or softball. Then see how it compares, from youth ball to MLB.
What Is a Good Batting Average?
In MLB, .300 is excellent and about .245 is average. The whole league hit .245 in 2025 and .244 in 2026, and only seven qualified hitters reached .300 in 2025. College conferences hit .262 to .295, so compare a player to their own level, not to the big leagues.
| Level | Average hitter | What counts as very good |
|---|---|---|
| MLB | .245 (2025), .244 (2026) | .300+: 7 qualified hitters in 2025. The NL batting title was won at .304, the AL title at .331. |
| College (NCAA D1) | .262 to .295 by conference (2025) | Well above your conference's average. |
| High school | No national figure is published | Compare to your team and conference: add up the team's hits and at-bats and put them in the calculator. |
| Youth (9-14U) | No league-wide figure is published | Compare to teammates over a full season. A youth average is not on the MLB scale: pitching, defense and the volunteer keeping the book all differ. |
Sources: Baseball-Reference MLB league averages, AP on the 2025 batting titles, FanGraphs on 2025 college conference averages. Checked November 2026. Softball uses the same formula; we have not found a published league-wide softball average to list.
Batting Average Chart: Hits by At-Bats
Find the at-bats across the top and the hits down the side. 2 for 6 is .333; 3 for 5 is .600.
| Hits | 1 AB | 2 AB | 3 AB | 4 AB | 5 AB | 6 AB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1 | 1.000 | .500 | .333 | .250 | .200 | .167 |
| 2 | 1.000 | .667 | .500 | .400 | .333 | |
| 3 | 1.000 | .750 | .600 | .500 | ||
| 4 | 1.000 | .800 | .667 | |||
| 5 | 1.000 | .833 | ||||
| 6 | 1.000 |
Want walks and hit by pitch counted too? The OBP calculator includes them, and the OPS calculator adds power.
Track Your Stats All Season
Save calculations to player profiles, compare stats across your roster, and monitor improvement over time.
How to Calculate Batting Average in Baseball: Complete Guide
Learning how to calculate batting average is one of the first things any baseball or softball player should know. Batting average (often abbreviated as AVG or BA) is the most famous baseball statistic and has been used since the 1800s to measure hitting performance. Use our batting average calculator above for instant results, or follow this guide to learn the formula and how to calculate batting average manually.
The Batting Average Formula
The batting average formula is simple - it's just division:
The result is expressed as a three-digit decimal. For example, a player with 30 hits in 100 at-bats has a batting average of .300 (pronounced "three hundred").
What Counts as a Hit?
A hit occurs when the batter safely reaches base by hitting the ball into fair territory (without the help of an error or fielder's choice). The four types of hits are:
- Single: Batter reaches first base
- Double: Batter reaches second base
- Triple: Batter reaches third base
- Home Run: Batter circles all bases and scores
What Counts as an At-Bat?
An at-bat is a plate appearance that ends in one of the following:
- Hit (single, double, triple, home run)
- Out (strikeout, groundout, flyout, lineout, etc.)
- Error that allows the batter to reach base
- Fielder's choice
What Does NOT Count as an At-Bat?
Importantly, these plate appearances do NOT count as at-bats:
- Walk (Base on Balls): Pitcher throws 4 balls
- Hit by Pitch: Batter is struck by a pitched ball
- Sacrifice Bunt: Batter bunts to advance a runner
- Sacrifice Fly: Batter flies out but a runner scores
- Catcher Interference: Catcher interferes with the swing
This is an important distinction! A player who walks a lot will have fewer at-bats than total plate appearances, which can affect their batting average calculation.
Step-by-Step Examples: How to Calculate Batting Average
Example 1: Basic Batting Average Calculation
Scenario: A player has 45 hits in 150 at-bats.
Calculation:
Batting Average = 45 ÷ 150 = 0.300
Result: .300 batting average - This player gets a hit 30% of the time. In MLB, only seven qualified hitters finished there in 2025.
Example 2: Season-Long Batting Average
Scenario: A high school player has 67 hits in 185 at-bats for the season.
Calculation:
Batting Average = 67 ÷ 185 = 0.362
Result: .362 batting average - 67 hits in 185 at-bats, rounded to three places.
Example 3: Accounting for Walks
Scenario: A player has these stats:
- Total Plate Appearances: 120
- Hits: 35
- Walks: 15
- Hit by Pitch: 3
- Sacrifice Flies: 2
Calculation:
At-Bats = 120 - 15 (walks) - 3 (HBP) - 2 (sac flies) = 100
Batting Average = 35 ÷ 100 = 0.350
Result: .350 batting average - Notice how walks, HBP, and sac flies are excluded from at-bats!
Is .300 Still the Mark of a Great Hitter?
In the big leagues, more than ever. MLB as a whole has hit between .243 and .248 every season from 2021 to 2026 (Baseball-Reference), down from .255 in 2016 and 2017. In 2025 only seven qualified hitters finished at .300 or better, matching 2024 for the fewest since 1968, and Trea Turner won the National League batting title at .304, the lowest winning mark in NL history (AP).
Below MLB there is no official scale. College conferences publish team stats (2025 Division I conferences hit between .262 and .295, per FanGraphs), but high school and youth leagues do not publish league-wide averages. The useful comparison for a young player is the rest of their own team over a full season, and their own average from last season.
Why Batting Averages Drop at Higher Levels
Many parents are surprised when their child's .500 average in youth ball becomes .300 in high school. Here's why:
- Better Pitching: Pitchers throw harder with more movement and better command
- Better Defense: Fielders make fewer errors and more difficult plays
- Larger Fields: More fly balls are caught in the outfield
- Wood Bats: Pro ball uses wood; youth, high school and college use metal or composite bats
- Higher Competition: Every player at higher levels was a top player at the previous level
Limitations of Batting Average
While batting average is the most famous hitting statistic, modern baseball analytics recognize its limitations:
It Treats All Hits Equally
A home run and a single both count as one hit, even though a home run is far more valuable. This led to the development of slugging percentage, which weights hits by bases earned.
It Ignores Walks
A player who walks frequently (showing good plate discipline) gets no credit in batting average. This led toon-base percentage (OBP), which includes walks, hit by pitch, and hits.
It Can Be Misleading Early in the Season
With small sample sizes, batting average fluctuates wildly. A player who goes 2-for-5 on opening day has a .400 average, but this doesn't mean they'll hit .400 all season.
Other Important Batting Statistics
Modern baseball uses several statistics alongside batting average:
On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Formula: (Hits + Walks + Hit By Pitch) ÷ (At-Bats + Walks + Hit By Pitch + Sacrifice Flies)
OBP measures how often a player reaches base by any means. Many analysts consider this more important than batting average because it values walks and gives a fuller picture of offensive contribution.
Slugging Percentage (SLG)
Formula: Total Bases ÷ At-Bats
Slugging percentage measures power by weighting hits: singles (1 base), doubles (2), triples (3), home runs (4). A slugging percentage of .500 is excellent at most levels.
OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging)
Formula: OBP + SLG
OPS combines getting on base with hitting for power. An OPS of .800 or higher is generally excellent. Many analysts consider OPS the best single statistic for overall offensive value.
How to Improve Your Batting Average
Whether you're a player or a parent/coach, here are proven ways to improve batting average:
1. Focus on Contact Before Power
Especially for young players, prioritize making solid contact over hitting home runs. Bat control and putting the ball in play lead to more hits and higher averages.
2. Work on Pitch Recognition
Learn to identify pitches early and lay off bad pitches. Swinging at balls outside the strike zone leads to weak contact and outs. Practice tracking the ball from the pitcher's hand.
3. Develop a Short, Quick Swing
A compact swing allows you to wait longer on pitches and make better contact. Focus on keeping your hands inside the ball and driving line drives rather than trying to lift everything.
4. Use Tee Work and Soft Toss
Regular practice with a tee and soft toss drills helps develop muscle memory for a proper swing path. Focus on hitting the ball hard to all fields.
5. Study Your At-Bats
Keep track of what pitches you hit well and which ones you struggle with. Adjust your approach accordingly - if you struggle with high fastballs, work on laying off them or practice hitting them on a tee.
6. Situational Hitting
With two strikes, shorten your swing and focus on putting the ball in play. Look for pitches you can handle rather than trying to drive the ball. Protect the plate and battle.
Famous Batting Average Records
- Rogers Hornsby, .424 (1924)
- Ted Williams, .406 (1941): the last .400 season in the American or National League
- Tony Gwynn, .394 (1994): the highest American or National League average since, in a strike-shortened season
- Josh Gibson, .466 (1943): Negro National League; Baseball-Reference's leaderboard now includes the Negro Leagues
- Career: Ty Cobb .366, Rogers Hornsby .358, Tony Gwynn .338
Source: Baseball-Reference single-season and career batting average leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Batting Average
How to calculate batting average with walks?
Walks do NOT count as at-bats, so they don't affect batting average directly. Simply exclude walks from your at-bat total. If a player has 50 hits, 120 at-bats, and 20 walks, their batting average is 50 ÷ 120 = .417, not 50 ÷ 140.
Is .300 a good batting average?
In MLB, yes: only seven qualified hitters reached .300 in 2025. Below MLB, judge it against the player's own team and level: college conferences hit .262 to .295 in 2025, and youth and high school leagues publish no averages at all.
What does .000 batting average mean?
A batting average of .000 (pronounced "oh for") means the player has zero hits. This is common early in the season or for pitchers who rarely bat. For example, a player who is 0-for-10 has a .000 average.
Can batting average be higher than 1.000?
No. The maximum batting average is 1.000, which means the player gets a hit every single at-bat. This occasionally happens very early in a season (e.g., 3-for-3 on opening day) but is impossible to maintain.
How is batting average different from slugging percentage?
Batting average treats all hits equally (single = home run = 1 hit). Slugging percentage weights hits by total bases (single = 1, double = 2, triple = 3, home run = 4). A player can have a low batting average but high slugging percentage if they hit mostly extra-base hits.
Why do pitchers have such low batting averages?
Pitchers spend their practice time on pitching, not hitting. In MLB today both leagues use a designated hitter, so most big league pitchers rarely bat at all.
Track More Than Just Batting Average
Now that you know your batting average, track your complete stats and manage your team like a pro. Use our other baseball tools to calculate ERA, create lineups, and plan practices.
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