How to Add a Vertical Line to a Scatter Plot in Excel – 2 Methods

This is the sample dataset.

Method 1 – Using Error Bars to Add a Vertical Line to a Scatter Plot in Excel

Steps

• Select B5:C11.

• Go to the Insert tab.
• In Charts, select Scatter Chart.

• Select the Scatter chart shown below:

The following chart is displayed:

• To modify the chart, click the plus sign (Chart Elements).
• Add Axes and Axis Title to the chart:

You can modify the Chart Style by clicking the Brush sign.

This is the output.

• Right-click the chart.
• Click Select Data.

• In the Select Source Data dialog box, in Legend Entries (Series), click Add.

• In the Edit Series dialog box, set the Series name, Series X values, and Series Y values.
• Click OK.

• In the Select Data Source dialog box, click OK.

The point of the student whose roll number is 4 has a different color:

• Click that point.

• In Chart Design, select Chart Layouts.
• Choose Add Chart Element .

• Select Error Bars.
• Select Percentage.

Horizontal and vertical percentage lines will be created on the point.

• Right-click the horizontal line.
• Select Format Error Bars.

• In Error Amount, set the Percentage to 0.

The horizontal line is removed:

• Right-click the vertical line on the point.
• Select Format Error Bars.

• In the Format Error Bars dialog box, in Vertical Error Bar, set the direction as Both (the error bar will show in both directions).
• In Error Amount, set the Percentage to 100.

This is the output.

You can change the color and width of the vertical line in Format Error Bars:

• Go to Fill & Line.
• In Line, change the Color and Width.

This is the final output.

Read More: How to Add Line to Scatter Plot in Excel

Method 2 – Adding a Vertical Line to a Scatter Plot Using Excel Shapes

Steps

• Select B5:C11.

• Go to the Insert tab.
• In Charts, select Scatter Chart.

• Select the first Scatter chart.

The following chart is displayed:

• To modify the chart, click the plus sign (Chart Elements).
• Add Axes and Axis Title.

You can modify the Chart Style clicking the Brush sign.

This is the output.

• Go to the Insert tab and select Illustrations.

• Select Shapes.

• Choose the first Line in Lines.

• The mouse cursor will change. Click a point to add the vertical line.
• To keep the line straight, press Shift.

The line will be displayed in the chart.

• Click the line.
• In Shape Format, select Shape Styles.

• In Theme Styles, select a theme.

The vertical line is displayed:

Read More: How to Create Excel Scatter Plot Color by Group

Download Practice Workbook

Download the practice workbook.

Related Articles

• How to Add Average Line to Scatter Plot in Excel
• How to Add Regression Line to Scatter Plot in Excel
• How to Add Data Labels to Scatter Plot in Excel
• How to Flip Axis in Excel Scatter Plot

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