Syntax
CORREL(array1, array2)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| array1 | Parameter of the CORREL function. |
| array2 | Parameter of the CORREL function. |
Examples
Ad spend vs. revenue
Formula
=CORREL(B2:B13, C2:C13)
Returns 0.87, indicating a strong positive correlation — as monthly ad spend increases, revenue tends to increase too.
Temperature vs. heating cost
Formula
=CORREL(D2:D365, E2:E365)
Returns -0.92, a strong negative correlation — as temperature rises, heating costs fall.
No correlation check
Formula
=ABS(CORREL(A2:A100, B2:B100)) < 0.1
Returns TRUE if the two variables have essentially no linear relationship.
Common Errors
#N/A
The two arrays have different numbers of data points. They must be the same length.
#DIV/0!
One or both arrays have zero variance (all values are identical). Correlation is undefined when a variable doesn't vary.
Tips
Correlation is not causation
A high correlation means two variables move together, but does not prove one causes the other. Ice cream sales and drowning deaths are correlated because both increase in summer.
Only measures linear relationships
CORREL detects linear patterns. A perfect U-shaped or circular relationship would show a correlation near 0. Scatter plot your data first.
R-squared relationship
CORREL^2 = RSQ. If CORREL returns 0.9, then RSQ is 0.81, meaning 81% of the variance in Y is explained by X.
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