Mann-Whitney U Test Calculator

Evaluate independent groups with ranked evidence and summaries. Review medians, mean ranks, z, and p-values. Export results, inspect plots, and explain findings with confidence.

Example data table

Observation Group A Group B
152
273
384
496
51210
61311
71514

This sample lets you test the form quickly and inspect rank behavior, U values, p estimation, effect size, export output, and the generated plot.

Formula used

The Mann-Whitney U test compares two independent groups by ranking all observations together. It is useful when data are ordinal, skewed, or not comfortably modeled by a normal distribution.

1) Rank all observations

Combine both groups, sort the values, and assign ranks. When ties occur, assign the average rank to each tied observation.

2) Sum ranks by group

Let R1 be the rank sum for Group A and R2 for Group B.

3) Compute U statistics

U₁ = R₁ − n₁(n₁ + 1) / 2 U₂ = R₂ − n₂(n₂ + 1) / 2 U = min(U₁, U₂)

4) Normal approximation

When exact calculation is not used, the calculator estimates the p-value from the normal approximation with tie correction.

Mean(U₁) = n₁n₂ / 2 Var(U₁) = (n₁n₂ / 12) × [ N + 1 − Σ(t³ − t) / (N(N − 1)) ]

Here, N = n₁ + n₂ and t is each tie block size.

5) Effect size

Rank-biserial correlation = (2U₁ / (n₁n₂)) − 1 Common-language effect size = U₁ / (n₁n₂)

6) Hodges-Lehmann shift estimate

This calculator also reports the median of all pairwise differences, Group A minus Group B, when the pair count stays reasonable for browser computation.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter numeric values for both groups.
  2. Use commas, spaces, tabs, or new lines as separators.
  3. Choose the alternative hypothesis that matches your question.
  4. Set alpha for your decision threshold.
  5. Choose whether continuity correction should be used.
  6. Click Calculate.
  7. Review U values, z, p, effect sizes, descriptive statistics, and the rank preview.
  8. Use the CSV or PDF buttons to save the output.

About this calculator

This tool is designed for practical nonparametric comparison of two independent samples. It calculates the Mann-Whitney U statistic, shows both directional U values, and reports a p-value using either exact logic for small untied samples or a tie-corrected normal approximation when data are larger or tied. It also adds descriptive summaries so you can review sample size, median, mean, spread, quartiles, and rank behavior without moving to another page.

The result area explains whether the observed difference is statistically meaningful at your chosen alpha level and gives an effect size interpretation. Rank-biserial correlation helps describe direction and strength, while the common-language effect size gives an intuitive probability-style reading. A Hodges-Lehmann shift estimate is also included when the number of pairwise differences remains manageable in the browser.

The plot section uses an interactive graph so you can inspect the distributions visually. Export tools let you save a CSV file with summary and rank detail, or a PDF report for documentation and sharing. This makes the page useful for education, audits, reports, research notes, quality reviews, and quick checks during analysis workflows.

FAQs

1) When should I use the Mann-Whitney U test?

Use it when two independent groups are compared with ordinal data, skewed measurements, outliers, or uncertain normality assumptions. It is a strong alternative to a two-sample t test.

2) Does this test compare means?

Not directly. It compares rank behavior between groups. Under similar distribution shapes, it is often interpreted as a location or median shift comparison.

3) What does Group A tends lower mean?

It means the alternative hypothesis expects Group A values to be smaller overall than Group B values, which usually produces smaller ranks and a smaller U₁.

4) What happens when ties exist?

Tied values receive average ranks. The variance is adjusted with a tie correction. Exact p-values are only used here for small samples without ties.

5) What is the rank-biserial correlation?

It is an effect size derived from the U statistic. Positive values suggest Group A tends higher, negative values suggest Group A tends lower.

6) Why do I see both U₁ and U₂?

U₁ describes Group A against Group B. U₂ describes the reverse comparison. Their sum always equals n₁ × n₂.

7) Is the exact p-value always available?

No. This page limits exact calculation to smaller untied inputs for speed and browser stability. Larger or tied samples use the asymptotic estimate.

8) Can I use this for paired data?

No. Paired observations need a paired nonparametric method, such as the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, not the Mann-Whitney U test.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.