Visualizing trends in data is super important, and line graphs in Excel are a fantastic way to see how things change over time. They’re great for showing fluctuations and patterns in your data.
A line graph connects data points with lines, making it easy to see changes across periods like days, months, or years. You’ll find them used everywhere, from tracking sales in marketing to analyzing scientific research.
Making and Tweaking Line Graphs in Excel
Excel gives you lots of tools for making line charts, and you can customize them to fit your needs perfectly.
Getting Your Data Ready
First, you need to have your data set up correctly in Excel before you can make a line graph. You’ll need at least two columns: one with your time periods (like months or years) and another with the corresponding data you want to plot (like sales or population). This gets you a single line graph.
If you need to compare different sets of data, just add more columns for each one. Excel will then show each data set as a separate line on the chart, so you can see how they all relate.
For example, let’s say we’re tracking wildlife populations in the Blue River forest:
Here, each column represents a different animal, and we can use a multi-line graph to compare their populations over the years.
Adding a Line Graph
Once your data is all set, you can create the line chart. First, select the data you want to use in the chart (e.g., A2:D12):
Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon. In the Charts group, click on the Line Chart icon and pick the basic 2-D Line chart.
Now, your data will show up as a line graph:
Line Chart Options in Excel
Excel has different types of line charts:
- Line: This standard 2D line chart is great for showing trends over time for one or more data sets.
- Stacked Line: This one shows how much each data set contributes at each point. Lines don’t cross since each series is stacked on top of the last.
- 100% Stacked Line: Like the stacked line but the y-axis is in percentages, so you see how much each data set contributes proportionally over time.
- Line with Markers: This adds markers at each data point, making individual values easier to spot.
- 3-D Line: This gives the line chart a 3D look, which can be visually appealing, but data interpretation might be trickier.
Making Your Line Chart Look Great
Once you have the line graph, you can adjust lots of things to make it look and work better.
Changing the Chart Title
To add a title, click on the default Chart Title text on the graph. Click again to edit it and type in your new title.
To change how the title looks, right-click the title and select Format Chart Title, or just double-click the title to open the formatting options. Here you can play with the font, size, color, and effects.
Adjusting Chart Layout, Styles, and Colors
Excel has pre-set layouts and styles you can use to quickly make your chart look better. With the chart selected, go to the Design tab under Chart Tools. Click on Quick Layout to pick a predefined layout that changes things like titles, legends, and data labels.
To change the style, pick one from the Chart Styles group on the same tab. This will change the whole look, including line styles and background.
Changing Line Colors
To change the color scheme, click Change Colors in the Chart Styles group under the Design tab. Pick a color palette that works for you.
For more control, you can change the colors of individual lines. Right-click on the line you want to change and select Format Data Series. In the formatting pane, go to the Fill & Line tab, expand the Line options, and choose a new color from the Color dropdown.
Switching Chart Types
If you want to show your data in a different way, you can change the chart type. Select the chart, go to the Design tab, and click Change Chart Type. You can also right-click the chart and select the same option.
Browse the different chart options and pick the one that suits your data best, then click OK.
Adjusting the Data Used
If you need to add more data, or remove some, you can change the data range. Select the chart, go to the Design tab, and click on Select Data in the Data group.
In the Select Data Source dialog, you can add or remove data sets, change the data range, and even switch the rows and columns around. Once you’ve made your changes, click OK to update the chart.
Adding Trendlines
Trendlines can help you spot patterns by highlighting the general direction of your data. To add one, click on the data series line you want to analyze. Then, click the green + icon next to the chart to open the Chart Elements menu. Check the Trendline option, or click the arrow for more choices.
For more options, select More Options to open the Format Trendline pane. Here you can pick the trendline type (e.g., Linear, Exponential) and change the line color and forecast settings. We’ll pick a Linear trendline for this example.
Now, the chart has a trendline to show the overall direction of the data series:
Adding Data Markers
Data markers can make individual data points easier to see. To add them, click on the line in the chart to select the data set. Right-click and choose Format Data Series to open the formatting pane. You can also just double-click on the line.
In the formatting pane, go to the Fill & Line tab and expand the Marker section. Under Marker Options, select Built-in, and then choose the marker type and size that work best for your chart.
With the markers added, your chart will show symbols at each data point:
Moving Your Line Chart
If you want your chart somewhere else, you can move it to a different sheet. Right-click on the chart and choose Move Chart.
In the Move Chart dialog, you can choose to put the chart as an object in an existing sheet or move it to a new one. Make your pick and click OK to move the chart.
That’s it! Now you know how to make and tweak line graphs in Excel to visualize your data and share your findings clearly.