The Excel INTERCEPT function returns the point where a least-squares regression line crosses the y-axis — the predicted y when x equals zero. Pair it with SLOPE to build the line y = SLOPE·x + INTERCEPT.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
known_ys | Required | The dependent set of observations or data (the y-values). |
known_xs | Required | The independent set of observations or data (the x-values). Must be the same size as known_ys. |
How to use it
INTERCEPT fits the same least-squares line that SLOPE and TREND use, then reports where that line meets the y-axis (x = 0).
Note the argument order: y-values come first, then x-values — the reverse of how you usually read “y vs x”. The two ranges must contain the same number of points; text and blanks in matching positions are ignored.
Full regression in one shot: LINEST returns the slope and intercept together (plus error statistics). INTERCEPT and SLOPE just pull out the two coefficients individually.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a INTERCEPT example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What does INTERCEPT actually compute?
What order do the arguments go in?
=INTERCEPT(known_ys, known_xs). This is the opposite of the usual spoken order, so it is easy to swap by mistake.How is INTERCEPT related to SLOPE?
Why does INTERCEPT return #DIV/0! or an error?
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