Calculate batting average for baseball and softball. Track your hitting performance and see how you compare to league standards.
Last updated: March 2026 | By Patchworkr Team
Batting Average
.300
Category
Excellent
Formula
45÷150=0.300
All-Star caliber performance. Elite hitter in any league.
| Avg Range | Category | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| .300+ | Excellent | All-Star caliber. Elite performance |
| .270-.299 | Good | Above league average. Reliable starter |
| .250-.269 | Average | League average. Solid contributor |
| .220-.249 | Below Average | Below league average. Needs improvement |
| <.220 | Struggling | Significant adjustments needed |
Note: MLB historical averages: .250 = league average, .300 = excellent, .400 = exceptional (rare). Modern league average ~.255.
Batting average (AVG or BA) is one of the oldest and most recognized statistics in baseball and softball. It measures a player's success at getting a hit when they come to the plate, calculated by dividing the number of hits by the number of at-bats.
The statistic is expressed as a three-digit decimal, but conventionally spoken without the leading zero. For example, a batting average of 0.300 is referred to as "batting three hundred" and represents getting a hit in 30% of at-bats.
While modern analytics have introduced more comprehensive hitting metrics (like OPS, wOBA, and wRC+), batting average remains culturally significant. The .300 mark is still considered the benchmark for excellent hitting, and batting titles are awarded to the league leaders in each season.
Batting average uses a simple formula:
Official at-bats include:
These plate appearances are excluded:
Note: Batting average only measures hits, not the quality of those hits. A single and a home run both count as one hit. Modern stats like slugging percentage account for extra-base hits.
Calculate batting average for a season:
.300+ is excellent (All-Star level), .270-.299 is good (above average), .250-.269 is average, .220-.249 is below average. In MLB, league average typically hovers around .250-.260.
Ty Cobb holds the MLB record with a career .366 batting average (1905-1928). In the modern era (post-1960), Tony Gwynn (.338) and Wade Boggs (.328) are among the highest.
Yes, but it's extremely rare. Ted Williams was the last to do it in MLB, batting .406 in 1941. Only a handful of players have achieved it in baseball's long history. It's considered one of the game's most difficult achievements.
It doesn't account for walks, power (all hits count equally), or game situations. A player who walks often may have a lower average but reach base more. Modern stats like OBP and OPS provide fuller pictures.
Batting average (AVG) is hits divided by at-bats. On-base percentage (OBP) includes walks and hit-by-pitches, showing how often a player reaches base by any means. OBP is generally considered more valuable.
No. Walks (bases on balls) are not counted as at-bats or hits, so they don't affect batting average. This is one criticism of the stat — it ignores a hitter's plate discipline and ability to draw walks.
In MLB, a player needs 3.1 plate appearances per team game (502 total in a 162-game season) to qualify for the batting title. The player with the highest qualifying average in each league wins the batting championship.
It's calculated the same way, but standards differ. Good softball batting averages are typically higher (.350+ in slowpitch, .300+ in fastpitch) due to different pitching speeds and field dimensions.