Excel How-To

How to Make a Line Graph in Excel

A line graph is the best way to display data trends over a period. Follow these steps to turn your raw data into a clear visual representation.

Step by step

1
Select your data
Highlight the cells containing your time-based data, including the headers for your categories.
2
Insert the chart
Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click the 'Insert Line or Area Chart' icon, and select 'Line'.
3
Customize the design
Use the 'Chart Design' tab to change colors, add axis titles, or adjust the chart style to suit your presentation.

Ensure your time data is in the first column to allow Excel to automatically recognize the X-axis.
Right-click the chart elements to quickly format specific items like gridlines or data markers.

Why is my line graph showing the wrong axis?

Click 'Select Data' in the Chart Design tab and ensure your time series is assigned to the Horizontal (Category) Axis labels.