What is the syntax for PEARSON in Excel?

The syntax for PEARSON is: =PEARSON(array1, array2)

What is PEARSON function in Excel?

PEARSON calculates the Pearson correlation coefficient (r), measuring the linear relationship between two variables. Values range from -1 (perfect negative) to +1 (perfect positive), with 0 indicating no linear relationship. It's identical to CORREL.

How do I interpret PEARSON results?

r near +1: strong positive correlation (both increase together). r near -1: strong negative correlation (one increases as other decreases). r near 0: weak/no linear relationship. Common thresholds: |r| > 0.7 strong, 0.4-0.7 moderate, < 0.4 weak.

What's the difference between PEARSON and CORREL?

They're mathematically identical and return the same result. PEARSON is named after Karl Pearson who developed the formula. Use whichever name you prefer - CORREL is more commonly used in Excel documentation.

Statistical

PEARSON Function in Excel

Q: What is the PEARSON function in Excel?

Returns the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient.

Q: What's the difference between PEARSON and CORREL?

They're mathematically identical and return the same result. PEARSON is named after Karl Pearson who developed the formula. Use whichever name you prefer - CORREL is more commonly used in Excel documentation.

Returns the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient.

Syntax

=PEARSON(array1, array2)

Arguments

array1 (required): First data set
array2 (required): Second data set

Examples

=PEARSON(A1:A10, B1:B10) - Correlation coefficient - Result: r value

PEARSON for data analysis

Confirm whether you need entire columns, filtered subsets, or distinct values.
Use [COUNTIFS](/functions/countifs/) and [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/) for multi-criteria metrics.
Pivot tables complement single-cell statistical formulas for exploration.

Common errors

Arrays must be same size

Use cases

Correlation analysis
Relationship strength
Data analysis

Frequently asked questions

What is PEARSON function in Excel? PEARSON calculates the Pearson correlation coefficient (r), measuring the linear relationship between two variables. Values range from -1 (perfect negative) to +1 (perfect positive), with 0 indicating no linear relationship. It's identical to CORREL.
How do I interpret PEARSON results? r near +1: strong positive correlation (both increase together). r near -1: strong negative correlation (one increases as other decreases). r near 0: weak/no linear relationship. Common thresholds: |r| > 0.7 strong, 0.4-0.7 moderate, < 0.4 weak.
What's the difference between PEARSON and CORREL? They're mathematically identical and return the same result. PEARSON is named after Karl Pearson who developed the formula. Use whichever name you prefer - CORREL is more commonly used in Excel documentation.

Editorial review

Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.