Batting Average Calculator - Calculate Your BA Instantly
Calculate your batting average instantly with our easy-to-use batting average calculator. Enter your hits and at-bats to get your BA, performance grade (Poor, Average, Good, or Elite), and see how you compare to MLB stars. Perfect for players tracking their season stats, coaches analyzing player performance, and fans understanding what makes a good batting average. Learn the formula, compare youth vs professional averages, and discover what batting average you need to reach the majors.
Calculate Your Batting Average
Batting Average Formula
Batting average (BA or AVG) is one of the most fundamental statistics in baseball. It measures how often a batter gets a hit when they step up to the plate. The formula is simple and has remained unchanged since the early days of baseball.
Batting Average Formula:
Example: 75 hits ÷ 250 at-bats = .300 batting average
How to Calculate Batting Average Step-by-Step
- Count your total hits: Add up all singles, doubles, triples, and home runs
- Count your total at-bats: Every plate appearance except walks, hit-by-pitch, sacrifice bunts/flies, and catcher's interference
- Divide hits by at-bats: This gives you a decimal number
- Round to three decimal places: Baseball tradition displays BA as .XXX (like .300 or .267)
Important Note: Walks (BB) and hit-by-pitch (HBP) do NOT count as at-bats, so they don't lower your batting average. However, they also don't count as hits, so they don't raise it either.
What's a Good Batting Average?
Understanding what constitutes a "good" batting average depends on the level of play. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of batting average standards across different levels of baseball, from youth leagues to Major League Baseball.
| Performance Level | Batting Average | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Elite (MLB All-Star) | .320 or higher | Elite |
| Excellent (MLB Starter) | .280 - .319 | Good |
| Average (MLB) | .240 - .279 | Average |
| Below Average | Below .240 | Poor |
Historical Context
The .300 batting average has been baseball's gold standard for over a century. A player who maintains a .300 average throughout their career is often considered for Hall of Fame consideration. The last player to hit .400 in a season was 
Ted Williams in 1941 with a .406 average.
Modern MLB Trends
Since 2015, the league-wide batting average in MLB has typically hovered around .250-.255. This represents a historical low compared to earlier eras. Factors include increased strikeout rates, defensive shifts, and modern pitching strategies. As a result, a .280 average in today's game is more impressive than it was 30 years ago.
Youth Baseball vs MLB Batting Averages
Batting averages vary significantly across different age groups and levels of competition. Youth players should compare themselves to age-appropriate benchmarks rather than professional standards. Here's what to expect at each level:
| Level | Age Range | Good BA | Elite BA |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Ball / Coach Pitch | 4-7 years | .500+ | .700+ |
| Machine Pitch | 8-9 years | .400-.500 | .600+ |
| Minor League (Youth) | 10-12 years | .350-.450 | .500+ |
| Little League Majors | 11-12 years | .300-.400 | .450+ |
| Middle School | 13-14 years | .300-.350 | .400+ |
| High School Varsity | 14-18 years | .300-.350 | .400+ |
| College (NCAA D1) | 18-22 years | .300-.340 | .370+ |
| Minor Leagues (AAA) | 20-30 years | .270-.300 | .330+ |
| Major League Baseball | 22-40 years | .280-.310 | .320+ |
Why Youth Averages Are Higher
Several factors contribute to higher batting averages at youth levels:
- Pitching Development: Young pitchers are still developing control and velocity
- Field Size: Smaller fields mean more balls drop in for hits
- Defensive Skills: Fielders make more errors at younger ages
- Pitch Selection: Limited pitch variety makes hitting easier
- Competition Level: Wider skill gaps between players at youth levels
For Young Players: If you're hitting .400+ in high school or .350+ in college, you're performing at an elite level and should consider pursuing baseball at the next level.
Related MLB Statistics Tools
Batting average is just one piece of the puzzle. Explore our other baseball statistics calculators to get a complete picture of offensive performance. Modern baseball analytics use a combination of metrics to evaluate players more accurately than batting average alone.
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Beyond Batting Average: On-Base Percentage (OBP)
While batting average is important, modern baseball analytics emphasize On-Base Percentage (OBP) as a more comprehensive measure of offensive performance. OBP includes walks and hit-by-pitch, which batting average ignores. A player with a .280 BA but a .380 OBP (due to many walks) is typically more valuable than a player with a .300 BA and a .330 OBP.
On-Base Percentage Formula:
Use our comprehensive Baseball Statistics Calculator to calculate OBP, slugging percentage, OPS, and other advanced metrics that provide a fuller picture of batting performance.
Historic MLB Batting Averages
Throughout baseball history, certain batting averages have become legendary. Here are some of the most remarkable batting average achievements in Major League Baseball history that showcase what's possible at the highest level of the sport.
| Player | Team | Season/Career | BA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Cobb |  Tigers |
Career (1905-1928) | .366 |
| Rogers Hornsby |  Cardinals |
Career (1915-1937) | .358 |
| Ted Williams | Red Sox |
1941 Season | .406 |
| Tony Gwynn |  Padres |
Career (1982-2001) | .338 |
| Ichiro Suzuki |  Mariners |
2004 Season | .372 |
| Luis Arraez | Padres |
2023 Season | .354 |
| Mike Trout |  Angels |
Career (Active) | .302 |
| Albert Pujols | Cardinals/Angels |
Career (2001-2022) | .296 |
Recent Batting Champions
The MLB batting title goes to the player with the highest batting average in each league (American and National) each season. Recent champions include:
- 2024 AL:
Aaron Judge (.322) - 2024 NL: Luis Arraez (.314)
- 2023 AL:
Luis Arraez (.354) - 2023 NL:
Ronald Acuña Jr. (.337)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is batting average in baseball?
Batting average is a baseball statistic that measures how often a batter gets a hit when they have an official at-bat. It's calculated by dividing total hits by total at-bats and is expressed as a three-digit decimal (like .300 or .267).
Is a .300 batting average good?
Yes, a .300 batting average is considered excellent in Major League Baseball. It means the player gets a hit in 30% of their at-bats, which has historically been the benchmark for elite hitters. Players who maintain a .300 average over their career are often Hall of Fame candidates.
Do walks count toward batting average?
No, walks (bases on balls) do not count as at-bats, so they don't affect batting average at all. However, walks do count toward on-base percentage (OBP), which is why OBP is often considered a more complete measure of a player's offensive contribution.
What's the difference between batting average and slugging percentage?
Batting average treats all hits equally (a single counts the same as a home run), while slugging percentage weights hits by total bases (singles = 1, doubles = 2, triples = 3, home runs = 4). Slugging percentage measures power, while batting average measures contact hitting ability.
What batting average do you need to make it to MLB?
To have a realistic shot at MLB, high school players should aim for .400+, college players should target .330+, and minor league players need to maintain .280+ in AAA. However, batting average is just one factor—power, speed, defense, and OBP also matter significantly in player evaluation.
Has anyone ever batted .400 in modern baseball?
The last player to hit .400 for a full MLB season was Ted Williams in 1941 (.406). Since then, Tony Gwynn came closest in the strike-shortened 1994 season, hitting .394. The .400 mark is considered one of baseball's most difficult achievements in the modern era.