Excel Scatter Plot: see if two things are related

A scatter plot puts one number on the X axis and another on the Y axis, one dot per row. If the dots form a line, the two things move together.

Steps

1. The X values (cause, e.g. ad spend) in column A, the Y values (effect, e.g. sales) in column B, headings in row 1.
2. Select A1:B20.
3. Insert › Charts › Scatter › the first one (markers only).
4. Title it. Add axis titles: click the chart › + › Axis Titles.

Add a trendline

Click any dot › + › tick Trendline. To see the equation and R²: click the trendline › Ctrl + 1 › tick Display Equation and Display R-squared value.

R² near 1 = strong relationship. Near 0 = none.

Label each dot with a name

Names in column C. Click a dot › + › Data Labels › More Options › tick Value From Cells › select C2:C20 › untick Y Value.

Check it worked

Find the row with the biggest Y — its dot should be the highest on the chart.

Common mistakes

It drew a line chart instead. You picked Line, not Scatter. Line treats X as labels; Scatter treats X as numbers with real spacing.

The dots are joined. You picked Scatter with Lines. Change Chart Type › Scatter (markers only).

Column A is text. Scatter needs numbers on both axes.