How to make a line graph
- Put dates, months or category names in the first column of your spreadsheet and one column of numbers per line next to it.
- Copy the whole range, header row included, and paste it into any cell of the grid or into the Paste data box. The header row becomes the line names.
- Click a point on the chart to pin a note to it. Rename lines by typing in the grid's top row.
- Download as PNG (2,400 pixels wide), JPEG or SVG.
The names sit at the ends of the lines, so there is no legend to look back and forth to. If you prefer a classic legend, set Line names to "Legend below".
Two or more lines
Every column after the first is a line, up to 8. A double line graph is two columns of numbers:
| Month | Sydney | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | 0 |
| Feb | 26 | 2 |
| Mar | 25 | 8 |
| … | … | … |
Add a line with the + Line button, or paste a wider range. A ninth column is left off the chart and the editor tells you so: past eight lines nobody can follow which is which. Tick a name under Dashed lines to set one line apart, a target or a forecast for example.
Dates, months and years on the x-axis
The first column decides how points are spaced:
| First column looks like | What you get |
|---|---|
| 2025-01-31, 2025-01, 1/31/2025, Jan 2025, January 5, 2025, 5 Jan 2025 | A time axis. Points are spaced by the real time between them, so a three-week gap is three times as wide as a one-week gap. |
| 1, 2, 5, 10 or 1990, 2000, 2010 | A number axis, spaced by value. |
| Q1, Q2, Mon, Tue, Jan, Feb, product names | Categories, spaced evenly in the order you typed them. |
Dates written with slashes are read the American way, month first. If one cell in the column is not a date, the whole column is treated as categories. An empty cell in a line breaks the line at that point. It is not drawn as zero.
Notes and highlighted ranges
A line going up is a fact. A line going up with "Blog launched" written next to the bend is an explanation. Click any point and type: the note is drawn with a short leader line and a ring around the point, and it is part of the PNG, JPEG and SVG you download. Notes are listed in the editor, where you can reword or remove them.
Highlight range shades the plot between two x values, for a holiday week, a sale or an outage.
Line graph or bar graph?
A line says "this changed from here to there", so use it when the x-axis has an order and you care about the direction: months, years, days. Bars say "these are separate amounts", so use them to compare things with no order between them, like products or teams. The Chart type switch at the top of the editor turns the same table into bars, so you can look at both.
If both columns are measurements and neither is time, you want points without a line: see the scatter plot maker. To show parts of one total, use the pie chart maker.
Line graph examples
FAQ
How do I make a line graph with multiple lines?
Give each line its own column. The first column holds the dates or categories, and every column after it becomes a line named after its header. Paste the whole range at once, or press + Line and type. Up to 8 lines are drawn.
Why does my line graph only show one value?
Because each row is one point, and your data has one row. A line needs at least two rows: put each date or category on its own row with its number next to it. If your data runs sideways, with dates across the top, paste it into a spreadsheet and transpose it first.
Can I put several points on the same date?
Yes. Give each point its own row and repeat the date. The line goes straight up or down between them. If the points belong to different things, put them in separate columns so each gets its own line.
How do I highlight a range of dates on the chart?
Under Highlight range, pick the first and the last x value. The area between them is shaded behind the lines and is included in the download. Remove it with the × next to the two menus.
Should the y-axis start at zero?
For bars, yes, always: the length of a bar is the value. For lines it is a choice. By default the axis fits the data, which shows small changes clearly and can make them look bigger than they are. Tick Start y at zero when the size of the change matters more than its shape.
What is the difference between a line graph and a line plot?
A line graph joins points with a line, usually over time. In US elementary math, a line plot is a different chart: a number line with an X or dot stacked above each value to show how often it occurs (also called a dot plot). This page makes line graphs. It does not make dot plots.
Line graph or bar graph, which should I use?
A line graph for change over an ordered x-axis such as time. A bar graph for comparing separate categories. If you are unsure, use the Chart type switch to see your data both ways.
How do I make a line graph in Excel?
Select the range including the header row, then Insert, Line. Excel takes the first column as the x-axis if it holds text or dates. Or copy the same range and paste it here.
Can I add a note or label to a point?
Yes. Click the point on the chart, type the note and press Enter. To change it, click the point again or edit it in the Notes list. Empty the text to remove it.
Is the line graph maker free and do I need an account?
It is free and there are no accounts. No watermark, no limit on downloads. Your chart is saved in your browser, so it is still there when you come back on the same device.