A batting average measures one thing only — how often a hitter reaches base on a hit — and that narrow scope is exactly why a single number, .300, has meant "excellent" for over a century, while .400 is treated as barely within reach at all.
The formula, and where "good" starts
Batting average is hits divided by at-bats: AVG = H ÷ AB (MLB Glossary). A hitter who goes 3-for-10 is batting .300 — three of every ten at-bats ended in a hit. Run any hit-and-at-bat total through the Batting Average Calculator to get the exact figure.
Because the formula is a plain ratio, the line for "good" comes from where hitters actually cluster, not an arbitrary round number. Wikipedia's summary of the stat states it directly: "In modern times, a season batting average of .300 or higher is considered to be excellent, and an average higher than .400 is a nearly unachievable goal" (Wikipedia — Batting average (baseball)).
Why .400 is the real ceiling
The last time a Major League hitter finished a full season above .400 was 1941, when Ted Williams — who "played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960" (Wikipedia — Ted Williams) — hit .406. Wikipedia's account of that season describes Williams going "6-for-8 on the day, finishing the season at .406," and states that he "is the last National League or AL baseball player to bat over .400 in a season" — a mark that "was the highest batting average in the major leagues since 1924" (Wikipedia — Ted Williams).
That gap has now run past eight decades, at every level of the sport, without a repeat. A .300 season still happens most years. .400 hasn't happened since 1941 — a full 85 years ago.
What the number leaves out
Batting average only counts hits over at-bats. Per Wikipedia's summary of the stat, "Batting average does not take into account bases on balls (walks) or power" (Wikipedia — Batting average (baseball)). Two hitters can post the identical .300 average with completely different offensive profiles — one drawing walks and hitting for extra bases, the other simply making a lot of contact. If you want the fuller picture, on-base percentage folds walks back in, and the guide on OPS as a single number walks through why even a combined stat can still hide which half of a hitter's game is doing the work.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional scouting, fantasy, or wagering advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is considered a good batting average in MLB?
A season batting average of .300 or higher is considered excellent at the MLB level, and anything above .400 is treated as a nearly unachievable goal under modern conditions (Wikipedia — Batting average (baseball)).
Who was the last MLB player to bat .400 in a season?
Ted Williams, who finished the 1941 season at .406 for the Boston Red Sox. He remains the last American League or National League player to bat over .400 for a full season (Wikipedia — Ted Williams).
How is batting average calculated?
Batting average is hits divided by at-bats (AVG = H ÷ AB), typically expressed to three decimal places (MLB Glossary).
Does batting average count walks?
No. Batting average "does not take into account bases on balls (walks) or power" (Wikipedia — Batting average (baseball)) — a walk is not an at-bat and does not appear anywhere in the formula. On-base percentage is the stat that credits a hitter for reaching base by a walk.