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Correlation Calculator Calculate Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients with R-squared interpretation.

Correlation Calculator illustration
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Correlation Calculator

Calculate Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients with R-squared interpretation.

1

Enter X Values

Input your X dataset as comma or space separated numbers.

2

Enter Y Values

Input your Y dataset (same number of values as X).

3

View Correlation

See Pearson r, Spearman ρ, R-squared, and interpretation.

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What Is Correlation Calculator?

The Correlation Calculator computes both Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients to measure the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables. Pearson's r measures linear correlation (how well data fits a straight line), while Spearman's ρ measures monotonic correlation (whether variables tend to move in the same direction). R-squared (R²) indicates the proportion of variance in one variable explained by the other. The calculator classifies the correlation strength (weak, moderate, strong) and direction (positive, negative), providing a clear interpretation of the relationship.

Why Use Correlation Calculator?

  • Computes both Pearson (linear) and Spearman (rank) correlations
  • Shows R-squared for explained variance interpretation
  • Classifies correlation strength and direction
  • Displays means and data point count

Common Use Cases

Research Analysis

Measure relationships between variables in scientific studies.

Business Intelligence

Identify correlations between business metrics (sales vs advertising).

Education

Explore relationships in data for statistics coursework.

Quality Control

Test relationships between process variables and outcomes.

Technical Guide

Pearson correlation: r = Σ(xᵢ−x̄)(yᵢ−ȳ) / √(Σ(xᵢ−x̄)² × Σ(yᵢ−ȳ)²). Values range from -1 (perfect negative) to +1 (perfect positive), with 0 indicating no linear correlation. Spearman rank correlation: ρ = 1 − 6Σdᵢ² / (n(n²−1)), where dᵢ is the rank difference. R-squared = r² represents the proportion of variance in Y explained by X. Strength interpretation: |r| < 0.3 = weak, 0.3-0.7 = moderate, > 0.7 = strong. Important: correlation does not imply causation — two variables can be correlated without one causing the other.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    Correlation does not imply causation — always consider confounding variables
  • 2
    Pearson is sensitive to outliers; Spearman is more resistant to them
  • 3
    Both variables must have the same number of data points
  • 4
    Use Spearman for ordinal data or non-linear monotonic relationships

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q What is a good correlation?
It depends on the field. In physics, r > 0.99 might be expected. In social science, r > 0.5 is often considered strong. Generally: |r| > 0.7 is strong.
Q What is the difference between Pearson and Spearman?
Pearson measures linear correlation. Spearman measures monotonic (rank-based) correlation. Use Spearman for non-linear relationships or ordinal data.
Q Can correlation be negative?
Yes. Negative correlation (r < 0) means as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. r = -1 is a perfect negative correlation.
Q What does R-squared mean?
R² indicates the percentage of variance in Y explained by X. R² = 0.64 means 64% of the variation in Y can be explained by its linear relationship with X.
Q How many data points do I need?
Statistically, at least 10-30 data points are recommended. More data gives more reliable correlation estimates.

About This Tool

Correlation Calculator is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.