How to add a line to a scatter plot in excel

By SpreadCheaters
Page last updated: 19/11/2022 | Next review date: 19/11/2024
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SpreadCheaters
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You can watch a video tutorial here.

You need to highlight an important data point in a scatter chart and clearly define its position on the x-axis (or both x and y axes).

There are three types of lines:

  • Vertical line;
  • Horizontal line;
  • Slope line

Option 1 – Adding a Vertical Line:

Step 1 – Opening the Data Source settings

  • Right-click the scatter chart and select Select Data.
  • Click on Add in the Select Data Source window.
  • The Edit Series window will open.

Step 2 – Setting the parameters

  • Set the Series name as “Vertical Line”.
  • Set the Series X values by selecting cell B9. 
  • Set the Series Y values by selecting cell C9.
  • Press OK.
  • A new data is generated, called “Vertical Line”.
  • Press OK again.

Step 3 – Setting up your line

  • Select the orange data point.
  • Go to Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Error Bars > Percentage.
  • Here, you will get a horizontal and a vertical line around the selected data point.

Step 4 – Removing the horizontal line

  • Right-click on the horizontal line.
  • Select Format Error Bars.
  • Set the Percentage value to 0 under the Error Amount section in the new window on the right.

Step 5 – Formatting your vertical line

  • Right-click on the vertical line.
  • Select Format Error Bars.
  • Set the Direction to Minus.
  • Set the Percentage value to 100 under the Error Amount section.

Option 2 – Adding a Horizontal Line:

Step 1 – Opening the Data Source settings

  • Right-click the scatter chart and select Select Data.
  • Click on Add in the Select Data Source window.
  • The Edit Series window will open.

Step 2 – Setting the parameters

  • Set the Series name as “Horizontal Line”.
  • Set the Series X values by selecting cell B9. 
  • Set the Series Y values by selecting cell C9.
  • Press OK.
  • A new data is generated, called “Horizontal Line”.
  • Press OK again.

Step 3 – Setting up your line

  • Select the orange data point.
  • Go to Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Error Bars > Percentage.
  • Here, you will get a horizontal and a vertical line around the selected data point.

Step 4 – Removing the vertical line

  • Right-click on the vertical line.
  • Select Format Error Bars.
  • Set the Percentage value to 0 under the Error Amount section in the new window on the right.

Step 5 – Formatting your horizontal line

  • Right-click on the horizontal line.
  • Select Format Error Bars.
  • Set the Direction to Minus.
  • Set the Percentage value to 100 under the Error Amount section.

Option 3 – Adding a Slope Line:

Step 1 – Opening the Data Source settings

  • Right-click the scatter chart and select Select Data.
  • Click on Add in the Select Data Source window.
  • The Edit Series window will open.

Step 2 – Setting the parameters

  • Set the Series name as “Slope Line”.
  • Set the Series X values by holding Ctrl and selecting cells B6 and B9.
  • Set the Series Y values by holding Ctrl and selecting cells C6 and C9.
  • Press OK.
  • A new data is generated, called “Slope Line”.
  • Press OK again.

Step 3 – Setting up your line

  • Select the two data points.
  • Right-click and select Change Series Chart Type.
  • Click on Combo.
  • Click the dropdown arrow beside the Slope Line option.
  • Select the icon with the name Scatter with Straight Lines from the dropdown options.
  • Press OK.

These are easy ways to add a line to a scatter plot.