A scatter plot is the honest workhorse of data analysis: every observation is one dot, and the cloud they form reveals the relationship: rising together, falling apart, or no pattern at all. Study hours against exam scores, price against sales, temperature against energy use.
This scatter plot maker is built for speed: paste two columns, label your axes, and export a clean plot for your report or lab write-up. Your data stays in the browser.
How to make a scatter plot online
- Paste X-Y pairs. The first column is X, the second is Y, one row per observation. Paste both columns at once from Excel, Sheets, or any CSV.
- Name the axes. A scatter plot without axis labels is a riddle. Add X and Y labels with units in the Style tab; future readers (and graders) will thank you.
- Add groups if needed. Extra columns become additional point series in their own colors, perfect for comparing two cohorts or conditions on the same axes.
- Export. Download PNG for documents, SVG for publications that need vector graphics, or copy the plot to your clipboard.
How to read (and present) a scatter plot
Look for the shape of the cloud. Dots climbing from bottom-left to top-right suggest a positive relationship; descending dots a negative one; a shapeless cloud, no linear relationship. Tight clouds mean strong association, loose clouds weak.
Watch for outliers: single dots far from the pack. Sometimes they’re data errors; sometimes they’re the most interesting observation in the dataset. Either way, address them rather than hoping readers won’t notice.
Remember the oldest caveat in statistics: correlation is not causation. A beautiful upward cloud says the variables move together, not that one drives the other.
Quick tips for a chart people trust
- Always label both axes with units; it’s the difference between a chart and a decoration.
- If many dots overlap, the built-in transparency keeps dense regions readable.
- Scale axes to your data’s range; scatter plots don’t need to start at zero.
- Use two point colors (two series) to compare groups instead of making two separate plots.
Frequently asked questions
What data format does the scatter plot need?
Two numeric columns: X values first, Y values second. Each row is one point. Additional numeric columns become extra series, drawn in their own colors on the same axes.
Can it draw a trend line?
Not yet; the current version focuses on clean, honest point clouds. If you need a fitted line for a publication, export the SVG and add it in your graphics tool, or compute the regression in your spreadsheet and paste the fitted values as a second series.
What’s the difference between a scatter plot and a line graph?
A line graph connects points in order because X is sequential (usually time) and there’s one Y per X. A scatter plot leaves points unconnected because each is an independent observation, often with repeated or unordered X values. If connecting your dots would create a tangle, you want a scatter plot.
How many points can I plot?
Up to 200 rows per series in the editor, plenty for coursework, surveys and business analyses. Point transparency keeps overlapping regions legible even at the upper end.