The Excel CORREL function returns the correlation coefficient between two data sets — a number from -1 to 1 that measures how strongly the two variables move together.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
array1 | Required | The first set of values. |
array2 | Required | The second set of values — the same length as array1. |
How to use it
CORREL measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship. The result, the Pearson correlation coefficient, ranges from -1 (perfect inverse) through 0 (no linear relationship) to +1 (perfect positive).
The two arrays must have the same number of values; pairs containing text, logicals, or empty cells are ignored together. CORREL is symmetric — swapping array1 and array2 gives the same answer.
Correlation isn't causation, and CORREL only captures linear association — a strong curved relationship can still produce a near-zero coefficient. Plot the data to confirm what the number is telling you.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a CORREL example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What range of values can CORREL return?
Is CORREL the same as PEARSON?
CORREL and PEARSON compute the identical Pearson correlation coefficient and return the same result. CORREL is the more commonly used name.Does correlation imply causation?
Why might CORREL return near zero for clearly related data?
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