How to Add More Data to a Scatter Plot in Excel

Adding another set of data to an Excel scatter plot lets you compare relationships between different groups in a single, powerful visual. Instead of toggling between two separate charts, you can see how different campaigns, time periods, or product categories stack up against each other. This guide will walk you through the easiest ways to add more data to an existing scatter plot in Excel.

First, A Quick Scatter Plot Refresher

A scatter plot (also known as an XY plot) is a diagram that shows the relationship between two different numerical variables. Each dot on the chart represents a single data point plotted along a horizontal (X-axis) and vertical (Y-axis). You use it to find patterns and correlations in your data.

For example, a marketing team might plot "Daily Ad Spend" on the X-axis against "Daily Website Traffic" on the Y-axis to see if increased spending actually leads to more visitors. Each day is a single dot on the chart.

But what if you ran two different campaigns, Campaign A and Campaign B? Plotting them on the same chart instantly shows you which campaign was more efficient at turning ad dollars into traffic. This is where adding another data series becomes so valuable.

How to Structure Your Data for a Multi-Series Plot

Before you add data to your chart, a little prep work will make the process much smoother. How you arrange your data in the spreadsheet determines how easily Excel can interpret and plot it.

There are two common and effective ways to structure your data.

Method 1: Shared X-Axis, Separate Y-Axis Columns

This is the most common setup. Use this when you have one independent variable (your X-axis) that applies to multiple dependent variables (your Y-axis series).

Imagine you're tracking customer satisfaction scores (CSAT) based on the number of support tickets handled per day. You want to see the relationship for two different product lines: "Product A" and "Product B".

Your data could be structured like this:

Here, "Days with X Tickets" is the shared X-axis value for both data series. "CSAT - Product A" will be our first Y-axis series, and "CSAT - Product B" will be the second.

Method 2: Separate X and Y Columns for Each Series

Use this structure when each data series has its own unique set of X and Y values. This often happens when you're comparing data from different sources or time periods that don't align perfectly.

For example, you're a Shopify store owner comparing the relationship between "Page Views on a Product Page" (X-axis) and "Units Sold" (Y-axis) for two different social media campaigns run on different days.

Your data might look like this:

Here, the Facebook Ads campaign has its own X (FB Ad Views) and Y (FB Ad Sales) values, and so does the TikTok campaign. Excel can handle this structure just fine.

Once your data is neatly organized using one of these methods, you're ready to create and update your chart.

How to Add a New Data Series to Your Scatter Plot

Let's assume you've already created a scatter plot with your first data series. Now you want to add the second one. Here are three different methods to do this, from the most precise to the quickest shortcut.

Method 1: Using the 'Select Data' Menu (The Most Reliable Way)

This method gives you complete control over what you're adding and is the best option for preventing errors, especially with complex datasets.

For our example, let's use the second data structure (Facebook vs. TikTok ads) and assume we've already plotted the Facebook ad data.

Step 1: Open the Select Data Source Window

Right-click anywhere on the empty space within your chart's plot area. A context menu will appear. Click on Select Data…

Step 2: Add a New Series

The Select Data Source dialog box will pop up. On the left side, under Legend Entries (Series), you'll see your existing data series (e.g., "FB Ad Sales"). To add a new one, click the + (Add) button below the list.

Step 3: Define Your New Series

The Edit Series dialog box will now appear. This is where you tell Excel exactly where to find the data for your new series (our TikTok data).

• Series Name: Click in this field. Then, click on the cell containing the name for your new series. In our example, you would click the cell that says "TikTok Ad Sales". This makes your chart legend update automatically if you ever change the name in the cell.

• Series X values: Delete anything that's currently in this field. With your cursor in this empty field, click and drag to select the data range for the X-axis of your new series. For our example, this would be the cells containing the "TikTok Ad Views" values.

• Series Y values: Do the same for the Y-axis. Delete the default text, click in the field, and then select the data range for the Y-axis of your new series - the "TikTok Ad Sales" values.

Step 4: Confirm Your Changes

After selecting your X and Y values, click OK in the Edit Series window. You'll return to the Select Data Source window, where you'll now see both your original and your new data series listed.

Click OK one more time. Your scatter plot will now display both data series, with different colored markers for each one.

Method 2: The Fast Copy-and-Paste Technique

If your new data is neatly formatted in two columns (X values on the left, Y values on the right), this method is surprisingly fast and effective.

1. Navigate to your data in the Excel sheet.

2. Highlight the columns containing the X and Y coordinate data for the new series you want to add. Don't include the headers.

3. Copy the selected data to your clipboard (Ctrl + C on Windows, Cmd + C on Mac).

4. Click once on the chart to select it. You'll see a border appear around it.

5. Paste the data onto the chart (Ctrl + V on Windows, Cmd + V on Mac).

Excel will intelligently recognize that you're adding a new X-Y pair and will plot it as a new series on your existing scatter plot. This is a huge time-saver for quick analyses.

Method 3: Dragging to Expand the Source Data Range

This visual method works best when your new data is located directly adjacent to your original data on the spreadsheet, as in our first "Shared X-Axis" example.

1. Click once on your chart to select it.

2. When selected, look at your spreadsheet. Excel will highlight the data being used in your chart with colored borders.

3. Hover your cursor over the small square handle at the bottom-right corner of the colored highlight box. Your cursor will change to a diagonal double-sided arrow.

4. Click and drag this handle to expand the selection to include the new column(s) of data you want to add.

When you release the mouse, Excel will automatically update the chart to include the new series you just covered with the highlight box. It's an intuitive way to quickly add adjacent data.

Formatting Your Chart for Clarity

Now that you have multiple data series on your chart, making it easy to read is critical. A confusing chart is worse than no chart at all.

Here are a few quick formatting adjustments that make a huge difference:

• Add a Legend: If Excel didn't add one automatically, click on the chart, then click the Chart Elements button (the green "+" icon) on the right. Check the box for Legend. This shows which color corresponds to which data series.

• Distinguish Your Data Markers: Two series of blue dots can be hard to differentiate. Right-click on one of the data points from your new series and select Format Data Series.... In the pane that opens, click the "Fill & Line" icon (the paint bucket). Here you can change the marker color, shape (e.g., from circles to triangles), and size to create a clear visual distinction.

• Add Clear Titles: Use the Chart Elements button to add a Chart Title and Axis Titles. Be descriptive! A title like "Marketing Campaign Performance" is better than "Chart 1". Labeling the axes as "Daily Ad Spend ($)" and "Website Sessions" leaves no room for misinterpretation.

• Add Trendlines: To better visualize the correlation in each series, consider adding a trendline (line of best fit). Right-click on any data point in a series and choose Add Trendline... Do this for each series to easily compare the overall trends between your groups.

Final Thoughts

Adding data to an Excel scatter plot is a straightforward way to create richer, more comparative data stories. Whether you prefer the detailed control of the "Select Data" dialog box or the speed of copying and pasting, you can quickly layer multiple series onto one chart, revealing insights that might have been hidden otherwise.

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