How to Create Dynamic Scatter Plot in Excel: 3 Easy Methods

Method 1 – Employing Pivot Table to Create Dynamic Scatter Plot

Step 1: Creation of Table from Dataset

Convert the dataset into a Table.

Select any cell from the dataset.
We selected cell E14 randomly.
Select Table from the Insert tab.

creating a table from the dataset

A dialog box of Create Table will appear.
Click OK.

Create Table dialog box

The table is now created.

Created table from dataset

Step 2: Inserting Pivot Table to Create Dynamic Scatter Plot

Create a Pivot Table from the table.

Select any cell from the dataset. We selected cell E14 randomly.
Select Pivot Table from the Insert.

creating pivot table from the table

A Pivot Table from the table or range dialog box will appear.
Select Existing Worksheet.
Set the location to any blank cell. We selected cell G4.
Click OK.

PivotTable from table or range dialog box

A side window of Pivot Table Fields appeared to fill up the necessary information about the Pivot Table.
Drag the fields from the top section to the areas at the bottom section as follows.
Drag Full Name in the Rows area, Business Unit in the Filters area, and both Years of Experience and Annual Salary to the Values area.

filling up PivotTable Fields

The Pivot Table is created.

pivot table creation

Step 3: Creating Dynamic Scatter Plot

Randomly select a cell.
We selected cell K10.
Go to the Insert tab >> select the Insert Scatter or Bubble Chart group.
Select Scatter Chart.

creating dynamic scatter plot

A blank Scatter chart or plot space will appear.

blank scatter plot

Click on the plot box >> Go to the Chart Design tab.
From the Data group >> Choose Select Data.

selecting data for the scatter plot

A Select Data Source dialog box will appear.
To fill out the Select Data Source dialog box, click Add.

filling up the Select Data Source dialog box

An Edit Series dialog box will appear.
Under the Series name option, select cell H4.
Select values from the Sum of Years of Experience inside the Series X values.
Select values from the Sum of Annual Salary inside the Series Y values.
Click OK.

filling up the Edit Series dialog box for creating the dynamic scatter box

Click OK in the Select Data Source dialog box.

added the data in the Select Data Source dialog box

The blank scatter plot is visible with dots, which is the data we inserted.

the dynamic scatter plot

Edit the title by clicking on it and typing Years of Experience vs. Annual Salary.
The Dynamic Scatter Plot is created.

editing the title for the dynamic scatter plot

Step 4: Employing a Filter and Clearing off Grand Totals, Subtotals

Right-click on the Business Unit from the side window of Pivot Table Fields.
Select Add as Slicer.

adding a slicer to the pivot table

A Business Unit slicer will appear.

The Business Unit filter

You may need to clear off the grand totals and subtotals from your dynamic scatter plot if you do not want them in your dynamic scatter plot. To do so, follow the below steps.

Select any of the cells from the Pivot Table.
We selected cell H7.
Go to the Design tab >> from the Layout group >> select Grand Total.
Select Off for Rows and Columns.

clearing off the grand totals from the rows and columns of the pivot table

Go to the Subtotals >> Select Do Not Show Subtotals.

clearing off the subtotals from the pivot table

See the Dynamic Scatter Plot.

The Final Look of Dynamic Scatter Plot

The following GIF shows how the dynamic scatter plot works with Business Unit filtering.

dynamic scatter plot excel

Method 2 – Using Table to Create Dynamic Scatter Plot

Steps:

Create a table from the sample dataset or press CTRL+T after selecting a random cell from the table.
Select cells D5:E14 from the columns Years of Experience and Annual Salary.
Go to the Insert tab >> Select the Insert Scatter or Bubble Chart group >> Choose the Scatter graph.

Creating dynamic scatter chart from the table

The dynamic scatter plot will appear.
Edit the title of the dynamic scatter plot to Years of Experience vs. Annual Salary.

Dynamic Scatter Plot from the table

Method 3 – Implementing Named Range to Create Dynamic Scatter Plot

Steps:

Provide a name for the range.
Go to the Formulas tab >> Click Define Name.

Creating data range by selecting Define Name

The New Name dialog box will pop up.
Fill out the Name with the preferred range name.
Select the worksheet from Scope.
Type the following formula in Refers to box to set the range:

=OFFSET(NamedRange!$D$5,0,0,COUNTA(NamedRange!$D:$D)-1,1)

Filling up the New Name dialog box

Formula Breakdown

COUNTA(NamedRange!$D:$D)-1 → The COUNTA function will count all the data from column D. This will only count non-empty cells, and -1 is to indicate we have column headers in our dataset.
- Output → 10.
OFFSET(NamedRange!$D$5,0,0,COUNTA(NamedRange!$D:$D)-1,1) → becomes
- OFFSET(NamedRange!$D$5,0,0,10,1) → The OFFSET function will extract all the data from the Years of Experience column starting from cell D5.
  - Output → D5:D14.

Click OK.
Click on the defined name to create another named range.
Fill out the New Name and type the following formula in the Refers to box:

=OFFSET(NamedRange!$E$5,0,0,COUNTA(NamedRange!$E:$E)-1,1)

creating another named range by filling up another New Name dialog box

Note: Column E is selected in this formula. The NamedRange is the name of the worksheet name.

Select a cell.
We selected cell G4.
Go to the Insert tab >> Select the Insert Scatter or Bubble Chart group.
Select Scatter chart.

inserting the scatter plot

A blank Scatter chart or plot space will appear.

Blank scatter plot

Click on the plot box >> Go to the Chart Design tab.
From the Data group >> Choose Select Data.

Selecting data for the scatter plot

ASelect Data Source dialog box will appear.
Fill out the Select Data Source dialog box and click Add.

filling up the Select Data Source dialog box

An Edit Series dialog box will appear.
Under the Series name option, type Years of Experience vs. Annual Salary.
Inside the Series X values, to select the Years of Experience data range, type:

=NamedRange!Experience_Range