A line chart in Excel shows trends over time; select your data, insert a line chart, then format axes, labels, and colors for clarity.
Want a trend you can read in seconds? Excel turns rows of dates and values into a clear visual with just a few clicks. This guide shows how to pick the right line style, prepare data, build the chart, and tune the details that keep the message honest and easy to scan.
Line Chart Choices And When To Use Them
Excel offers several line variations for different stories. If you want straight trend lines with minimum ink, start with the basic option. When you need to emphasize each point, add markers. For parts that stack over time, the stacked types fit. If every category is a share of a whole, the 100% stacked versions keep the share perspective intact. Microsoft defines line visuals as suited to continuous data over time with categories spaced evenly along the X-axis, which is perfect for trends by day, month, or year.
| Type | Best Use | Where To Insert |
|---|---|---|
| Line | One or more series with time on the X-axis. | Insert → Line or Area → Line |
| Line With Markers | Call out exact values at each period. | Insert → Line or Area → Line With Markers |
| Stacked Line | Total of categories across periods. | Insert → Line or Area → Stacked Line |
| Stacked Line With Markers | Stacked trend plus individual points. | Insert → Line or Area → Stacked Line With Markers |
| 100% Stacked Line | Share of whole across periods. | Insert → Line or Area → 100% Stacked Line |
| 100% Stacked With Markers | Share of whole with points shown. | Insert → Line or Area → 100% Stacked With Markers |
Build A Line Graph In Excel: Step-By-Step
1) Prepare The Data
Place time in a single column, such as dates by month or day. Put each numeric series in its own column to the right with clear headers. Keep the sheet tidy: no blank header cells, no subtotals inside the table, and consistent number formats. If your dates are text, convert them to real dates so the X-axis can act as a date axis later.
2) Insert The Chart
Select any cell in your data block. Go to Insert and open the Line gallery. If you aren’t sure which visual fits, try Recommended Charts; Excel suggests options that match your selection and previews them before placement. You’ll get an embedded chart ready for polish.
3) Clean The Axes
Click the horizontal axis. In Format Axis, set Axis Type to Date axis when the X values are real dates. Choose base units that match your grain, such as days, months, or years. This keeps spacing consistent and prevents uneven gaps that can mislead readers.
Next, select the vertical axis. Set sensible minimum and maximum bounds, adjust the major unit for readable tick spacing, and pick display units if values are large. A logarithmic scale is available for positive values when your range spans orders of magnitude.
4) Label What Matters
Add a short title tied to the question your reader has. Use data labels with care: final value labels at the line ends often beat labels at every point. Always include axis titles with clear units. If lines crowd the legend, move labels near the lines instead to reduce eye travel.
5) Choose Lines And Markers
Thin strokes improve legibility. Keep distinct hues for multiple series. Markers help when readings are sparse; skip them for dense series to avoid clutter. You can switch on “Smoothed line” in Format Data Series if you need an interpolated curve. Use smoothing only when the phenomenon is truly continuous so the curve doesn’t imply precision you don’t have.
6) Compare Different Scales Safely
If one series dwarfs another, a second value axis can help, but use it with care. Select the outlier series, open Change Chart Type, and move that series to a secondary axis with a Combo chart. Label both axes plainly to avoid misreads, and keep units obvious.
When To Pick A Scatter Plot Instead
Line visuals treat the X-axis as categories spaced evenly, which fits dates and text labels. When the X values are true measurements like temperatures, rates, or uneven time stamps, use an XY scatter plot. That chart respects numeric scale on both axes and handles dense points with trendlines when needed.
Data Setup Tips That Prevent Headaches
Keep A Simple Table
Turn your range into an Excel Table with Ctrl+T. Tables expand as you add rows, so the chart stays linked without manual range edits. Give the table and columns sensible names; those names appear in Select Data and in chart elements, which makes maintenance painless.
Sort Dates And Fill Gaps
Sort the date column in ascending order. If you need every month shown, fill missing months with blank or zero values according to your story. A date axis can still show uniform spacing even if some dates are absent; confirm the base unit matches the cadence you want.
Limit The Number Of Series
Three to five lines is a practical ceiling for quick reading. When you must show more, group minor lines into “Other” or use small multiples so each panel stays readable.
Format Moves That Pay Off
Title And Subtitle
Use a short title for the takeaway, then a subtitle with units and time span when needed. Keep both in sentence case. Avoid shouting in all caps or stuffing keywords into the title field.
Legend And Labels
Place the legend above the plot area to keep lines unobstructed. If lines cross often, label the lines directly at their endpoints. Final value labels reduce hunting back and forth between legend and plot.
Gridlines And Color
Keep gridlines light for reference and rely on line contrast for emphasis. One accent color can draw attention to the main series. Keep backgrounds plain so data stays front and center.
Markers And Smoothing
Use markers when readings are occasional. Remove markers for daily or hourly data to avoid a noisy field of dots. If you enable “Smoothed line,” verify that the curve doesn’t overshoot peaks or bottoms, which can happen with interpolation on volatile series.
Speed Build: From Blank Sheet To Trend
- Put dates in column A and one or more numeric series in columns B onward.
- Select any single cell inside the block.
- Press Alt+N, then choose the Line chart gallery.
- Pick the basic line to start.
- Click the horizontal axis → Format Axis → Date axis → set base units to days, months, or years.
- Click the vertical axis → set bounds and major units; turn on display units if values are large.
- Add axis titles and a short chart title.
- Use final value labels at line ends when helpful.
- Place the legend above the plot or label lines directly.
- Save the format as a template to reuse across reports.
Common Pitfalls And Easy Fixes
Uneven X-Axis Spacing
Symptom: months appear uneven or out of order. Fix: switch the axis to Date axis and choose a base unit that matches your data cadence.
Values Crushed At The Bottom
Symptom: a high-magnitude series flattens others. Fix: move the outlier to a secondary axis with clear units, or split the view into two charts to keep scales honest.
Too Many Lines
Symptom: a spaghetti plot nobody can read. Fix: limit to the few that matter, add a short subtitle that names the filter, or switch to small multiples.
Markers Making Noise
Symptom: dots clutter the view. Fix: remove markers for dense series; keep clean strokes and rely on color contrast.
Dates Showing As Text
Symptom: the X-axis refuses to behave like time. Fix: convert text strings to real dates, sort ascending, and confirm that Date axis is selected in Format Axis.
| Issue | Quick Fix | Menu Path |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong chart type | Preview choices with Recommended Charts. | Insert → Recommended Charts |
| X-axis looks uneven | Switch to Date axis and set base units. | Axis → Axis Options → Axis Type |
| Lines overlap in scale | Add a secondary value axis for one series. | Chart Design → Change Chart Type → Combo |
| Y-axis hard to read | Adjust min/max, major units, or display units. | Axis → Axis Options → Bounds/Units |
| Too many points | Remove markers or sample points; smoothing if fit makes sense. | Format Data Series → Line → Smoothed line |
| Legend confusion | Place labels at line ends. | Chart Elements → Data Labels → Right |
Accessibility, Export, And Speed Tips
Add Alt Text
Describe the visual for people using screen readers. Right-click the chart, choose Edit Alt Text, and write a brief description of the variables, range, and time span.
Keep Elements Screen-Reader Friendly
Use clear axis titles and legend entries. Avoid vague labels like “Series 1.” Keep contrast high so lines are visible for low-vision users. Microsoft’s guidance on accessible spreadsheets echoes these points and links to the built-in Accessibility Checker.
Export As An Image
Need to drop the chart into a slide or a doc? Click the chart, copy, and paste into the target app. You can also save the chart as a picture for reuse in other tools.
Handy Shortcuts
- Alt+F1: create a default chart from the current range.
- Ctrl+F1: show or hide the ribbon for more canvas space.
When A Line Is Not The Right Choice
Pick a column visual for single-period comparisons, an area view for parts-to-whole over time, and a scatter plot for paired measurements or uneven time stamps. Choose the display that answers the question with the least effort from the reader. Microsoft’s overview of chart families is a handy refresher when you’re weighing options.
Reference Steps From Microsoft
If you want a quick primer straight from the source, skim Microsoft’s walkthrough on building a chart from a selection. It covers selecting data, inserting a chart, and adding a trendline. It also lists platform specifics for Windows, Mac, and the web.
Create a chart from start to finish