Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph: What’s the Difference?

Have you ever researched the similarities and differences between a Scatter Plot and a Line Chart? If not, you probably misunderstood the role of the two visualizations.

Word on the streets is that many of you conclude that a Line Graph and a Scatter Plot perform the same job. Let not their appearance deceive you.

Here’s a fact you should know.

A Line Chart helps you display patterns and trends of variables in your data. On the other hand, a Scatter Plot enables you to visualize critical data variables.

The truth is that both charts are essential in your data story. Why? It’s because they are easy to plot and decode.

This blog will teach you more about Scatter Plots vs. Line Graphs. You have much to understand about both charts.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. What is the Difference Between a Scatter Plot and a Line Graph?
3. When to Use a Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph?
4. Best Tool to Use to Visualize Your Data with Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph
5. Wrap Up

Let’s get down to business.

Introduction

A Scatter Plot is a visualization that displays relationships between vital data points.  This visualization has several dots that are essential in showing the correlation between the variables you plot.

A Scatter Plot is best suited for the job if your objective is to reveal hidden insights between two variables. Let’s use the example below. We want to see if there is a correlation between height and age in both genders.

Gender	Name	Age (Years)	Height (inches)	Weight (lb)
Male	Martin	8	50	52
Male	Martin	11	62	73
Male	Martin	16	66	134
Male	Martin	20	71	155
Male	Kim	6	48	52
Male	Kim	13	63	76
Male	Kim	17	68	131
Male	Kim	19	73	153
Female	Jada	9	52	57
Female	Jada	14	57	79
Female	Jada	16	62	117
Female	Jada	20	66	126
Female	Aubree	8	54	56
Female	Aubree	11	61	81
Female	Aubree	15	62	115
Female	Aubree	20	63	127

When you visualize the above data using a Scatter Plot, it will appear as shown below.

Some of the insights you can identify from your Scatter Plot include the following:

• The height of both genders increases with their age.
• The dot sizes increase with time which reveals the weight of both genders.

Understanding Line Graph

A Line Graph is also known as a Line Chart. A Line Graph is a visualization that shows how a variable changes over time.

You can also use the Line Graph to display how several variables change over time. One of the significant benefits of using a Line Graph is that it is simple to read and interpret.

You can use a Line Graph to display categorical and continuous data.

Let’s use an example of data you can use as a Line graph. The table below shows the age and height of several female respondents.

Age (Years)	Height (inches)
8	50
11	57
14	63
18	64

The Line Graph of the above data will appear as shown below.

One of the insights you can retrieve from the Line Graph is:

The height of the female respondents increases with age. In essence, the older respondents are taller than the younger ones.

Let’s now identify the differences between the two graphs.

What is the Difference between Scatter Plot and Line Graph?

Line Chart vs. Scatter Plot appears as two similar visualizations but have different roles.

The image below shows a clear difference between the two graphs.

Graph A is a Line Graph. Graph B is a Scatter Plot.

As you can see, a Scatter Plot uses a line of best fit to display a relationship between two varying data sets. Still, a Scatter Plot uses dots to show correlations and associations in your raw data.

On the other hand, a Line Graph connects various data points using straight line segments, unlike a Dot plot chart, which displays individual data points as dots. There is no line of best fit in a Line Graph; the straight-line segments help you identify trends and patterns in your data.

When to Use a Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph?

Generally, it is better to use a Line Graph if your raw data includes non-numeric values. If your raw data only has numeric values, use a Scatter Plot.

You can use a simple Line Graph or a Line graph with multiple lines if you want to label your horizontal axis with text labels. These labels can represent evenly spaced values such as days, weeks, or years. If you’re working with data in a table format, you can create a graph from the table to visualize the information. Additionally, you can use a Scatter Plot to modify the horizontal axis scale.

Let’s take a look at each in detail.

When to Use a Scatter Plot?

• When you want to compare many data points without regard to time, this only means the more data you include in your Scatter Plot, the better the comparisons you can make with this visualization.
• A Scatter Plot uses values in its horizontal axis when you want to use a logarithmic scale on your horizontal axis. You have the freedom to customize it to become a logarithmic axis.
• When you want to display data that has grouped values, you can adjust your independent scales so that they show more information about the grouped sets of values.
• Use a Scatter Plot when you randomly distribute data on the x-axis.
• For instance, when you want to show patterns in your large data sets, a Scatter Plot can show linear and nonlinear trends and outliers.

When to Use a Line Graph?

• When you want to track long and short-term changes, when your data has more minor changes, a Line Graph will easily visualize such data.
• When you want to make comparisons, this is only applicable when using multiple lines in one graph to compare various variables with time.
• When you have continuous data, they include age, height, length, and temperature. For example, the weight of a child will change with time.

Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph

	Line Graph	Scatter Plot
Purpose	A Line Graph displays meaningful insights into continuous data over time. The graph uses line-segments to connect key data points relative to a specified time. A Line Graph is ideal for showing growth rates or trends at even intervals.	A Scatter is best in displaying relationships between varying variables. It’s suitable for displaying associations and correlations. Still, you can use a Scatter Plot Graph in cause-effect analysis for in-depth insights.
Axis	The x-axis shows dimensional variables, such as months and years. The y-axis displays key metrics in your data.	Both x and y-axes depict varying metrics, which are in most cases numerical.
Plots	Line-segments join key data points.	You draw a line of best fit in areas where dots are mostly concentrated.
Amount of Data	One of the disadvantages of the Line Chart is the fact that it cannot handle bulky and complex data.	Scatter Plots are suitable in visualizing bulky and complex data sets.

Best Tool to Use to Visualize Your Data with Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph

Google Sheets is a spreadsheet application that most business professionals use. However, Google Sheets uses basic Scatter Plots and Line Graphs in its library.

That is why you will need much customization to obtain a Scatter Plot or a Line Graph as well as many more charts like a Chord Diagram that is in harmony with your data story.

The best approach is to supercharge your Google Sheets with a third-party add-on called ChartExpo.

You can easily install ChartExpo in your Google Sheets with less help from a manual. ChartExpo has plenty of good visualizations you can use for your data stories.

With ChartExpo, you can restate the Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph misconception. The third-party add-on helps you to distinguish between the two graphs easily.

Let’s find out how to make each visualization in Google Sheets.

Crafting Scatter Plot:

Let’s compare the age, height, and weight of both genders.

The table below shows such data.

Gender	Name	Age (Years)	Height (inches)	Weight (lb)
Male	Martin	8	50	52
Male	Martin	11	62	73
Male	Martin	16	66	134
Male	Martin	20	71	155
Male	Kim	6	48	52
Male	Kim	13	63	76
Male	Kim	17	68	131
Male	Kim	19	73	153
Female	Jada	9	52	57
Female	Jada	14	57	79
Female	Jada	16	62	117
Female	Jada	20	66	126
Female	Aubree	8	54	56
Female	Aubree	11	61	81
Female	Aubree	15	62	115
Female	Aubree	20	63	127

• To get started with ChartExpo, install the ChartExpo add-in for Google Sheets from this link.
• To get started with ChartExpo, head to the Extensions button > Chart, Graphs & Visualizations by ChartExpo > Open.

• Click the Add New Chart button to access your fully stocked library of charts and graphs.

• Once ChartExpo is loaded, you will see a list of charts.

• Then, scroll through the numerous chart templates until you see the Scatter Plot.

• Select your data on the worksheet and then click the Create Chart button.

• The final chart will appear as shown below.

Insights:

• The average height of both genders is recorded as 60.69.
• The average age of both genders is 14 years.
• The height of the participants increases with their age. Essentially, their heights increase as their age increases.
• The dots’ size represents their weight. Their weight also increases with their age.

Crafting Line Graph:

Let’s use a different example to help you create one in your Google Sheets.

Let’s compare the age, and height. You will use the table below.

Age (Years)	Height (inches)
8	50
11	62
14	66
18	71

• To get started with the ChartExpo, copy the table above into your Google Sheets.
• To get started with ChartExpo, head to the Extensions button > Chart, Graphs & Visualizations by ChartExpo > Open.
• Click the Add New Chart button to access your fully stocked library of charts.
• Once ChartExpo is loaded, you will see a list of charts.
• Then, scroll through the numerous chart templates until you see the Line Chart.

• Select your data and click on Create Chart, as shown below.

• Your chart will appear as shown.

Insights:

• The height of the participants increases with age. Essentially, the heights increase as age increases.

FAQs:

Why should you use a Scatter Graph instead of a Line Graph?

A Scatter Plot can compare many data points. This only means the more data you include in your Scatter Plot, the better the comparisons you can make with this visualization.

A Scatter Plot can visualize bulky raw data better than a Line Graph.

Wrap Up

Let’s recap what you have learned so far.

Despite the Scatter Plot and Line Graph looking similar, you now understand that they perform different jobs.

We have learned that the difference between the two is that a Scatter Plot displays relationships between vital data variables. On the other hand, a Line Graph shows trends and changes in variables.

You can now end the misconception on the Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph by understanding when you use them. What is common about both charts is that they are straightforward when plotting points.

You have learned how to create a Scatter Plot vs. Line Graph in Google Sheets. With the help of a third-party add-on called ChartExpo, you could easily create an incredible Scatter Plot and Line Graph.

Now it’s your turn to create yours. Start a 7-day free trial today to access both Scatter Plots and Line Graphs.