FORECAST.LINEAR Function (2024)

The FORECAST.LINEAR function predicts a value based on existing values alonga linear trend. FORECAST.LINEAR calculates future value predictions using linear regression, and can be used to predict numeric values like sales, inventory, test scores, expenses, measurements, etc.

Note: Starting with Excel 2016, the FORECAST function was replaced with the FORECAST.LINEAR function. Microsoft recommends replacing FORECAST with FORECAST.LINEAR, since FORECASTwill eventually be deprecated.

In statistics, linear regression is an approach for modeling the relationship between a dependent variable (y values) and an independent variable (x values). FORECAST.LINEAR uses this approach to calculate a y value for a given x value based on existing x and y values. In other words, for a given valuex,FORECAST.LINEAR returns a predicted value based on the linear regression relationship between x values and y values.

Example

In the example shown above, the formula in cell D13 is:

=FORECAST.LINEAR(B13,sales,periods)

where sales (C5:C12) and periods (B5:B12) are named ranges. With these inputs, the FORECAST.LINEAR function returns 1505.36 in cell D13. As the formula is copied down the table, FORECAST.LINEAR returnspredictedvalues in D13:D16, using values in column B for x.

The chart to the right shows this data plotted in a scatter plot.

Note:Although FORECAST calculates future value predictions, it can also be used to interpolate and even predict the past. Mark at Excel Off The Grid has a detailed explanation here.

Notes

• If x is not numeric, FORECAST.LINEAR returns a #VALUE! error.
• If known_ys and known_xsare not the same size, FORECAST.LINEAR will #N/A.
• If the variance of known_x values is zero, FORECAST.LINEAR willreturn #DIV/0!.