Scatter Plot Maker (with Line of Best Fit)
Plot your data as a scatter plot and add a line of best fit.
How to make a scatter plot
Enter your x values and your y values, in the same order, separated by spaces, commas or new lines. Each pair becomes one dot. The tool adds the line of best fit (which you can switch off), and gives the equation, the correlation r and R².
Worked example
The default data are hours of study (x = 1 to 10) and test scores (y = 52, 55, 61, 60, 68, 71, 70, 78, 82, 85). The line of best fit is y = 48.07 + 3.66x, so each extra hour is linked with about 3.7 more points. The correlation is r = 0.987 and R² = 0.973, a very strong positive relationship.
Every chart has Download PNG and Download SVG buttons under it, so you can save the image for a report, an essay or a slide. Charts follow your light or dark theme on the page, and the saved image keeps its colours.
What to look for in a scatter plot
| Pattern | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Dots rise from left to right | Positive relationship |
| Dots fall from left to right | Negative relationship |
| A shapeless cloud | No linear relationship |
| A curve | A relationship that is not a straight line |
| One dot far from the rest | An outlier that can pull the line |
A scatter plot shows association, not cause. For the p-value, the confidence interval and predictions, use the linear regression calculator. For the strength of the relationship alone, use the correlation coefficient calculator.
How to cite this page
CalcPulse. (2026). Scatter Plot Maker. https://calcpulse.com/scatter-plot-maker/
Frequently asked questions
What is a scatter plot?
A graph that shows pairs of values as dots, so you can see whether two variables are related.
What is the line of best fit?
The straight line that comes closest to all the points, found by least squares.
What does R squared mean on a scatter plot?
The share of the variation in y explained by the line. An R² of 0.97 means the line explains 97%.
Does a strong pattern mean one variable causes the other?
No. It shows an association. Other factors may explain it.
How many points do I need?
At least 3 to draw the line, but more points give a more reliable picture.
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