Area charts are similar to line charts, where the x-axis is defined as the time period while the y-axis is the visualized metric, but the area under the line is shaded a certain color. Simple area charts are essentially line charts with shaded areas underneath the lines.
The area charts offered by many spreadsheet tools can either be a smooth area chart or a stepped area chart. Smooth- and stepped-types differ on how the lines that mark the area are plotted: the lines for smooth area charts are plotted like line charts, while the lines for stepped area charts form an outline of columns drawn together. Smooth area charts offer a sense of continuity, while stepped area charts emphasize that the data are valid on the date they are recorded.
Often, more than one series of the same metric is visualized as a stack of different colors of different areas under the curve. They are called stacked area charts. Stacked area charts are used to visualize the changes in the contribution of various sources to a certain quantity or metric over time.
This tutorial is a straightforward guide to inserting an area chart with some notes on the type of data that it requires.
The data for an area chart needs to have the following columns:
Use the first row as the label for your series. You can set the first column for the time or date the data was recorded.
Here are the steps for creating an area chart from an existing dataset:
Step 1: Select the range of data that you want to visualize.
Step 2: Click Insert, then click Chart.
Step 3: The selected chart type is not an area chart by default. On the right side, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the Setup tab if it is not already selected, then click the drop-down box below Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for the Area chart, and click it.
Step 4: We now have an area chart. To add a title to the chart, go to the Customize tab in the Chart editor, then click Chart axis & titles.
Step 5: If you want to add a chart title, make sure that the drop-down box displays the option Chart title. On the text box below the drop-down box, type the title of the chart.
Step 6: Here are some options for modifying the title of the chart:
We now have the following chart!
Unlike a typical area chart which we discussed in the previous section, a stacked area chart visualizes the components of a certain quantity, thus adding another dimension to your area chart. This means that the dataset should have multiple columns.
Before you follow these steps, make sure that your data also contains the breakdown of the values of the components.
Step 1: Select the range of data that you want to visualize.
Step 2: Click Insert, then click Chart.
Step 3: The selected chart type is not a stacked area chart by default. On the right side of the screen, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the Setup tab if it is not yet selected, then click the drop-down box below Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for Stacked area chart and click it.
Step 4: We now have a stacked area chart. To add a title to the chart, go to the Customize tab in the Chart editor and click Chart axis & titles.
Step 5: If you want to add a chart title, make sure that the drop-down box displays the option Chart title. On the text box below the drop-down box, type the title of the chart.
Step 6: Here are some options for modifying the title of the chart:
We now have the following chart!
Sometimes you’re not interested in the total quantity but instead with the differences in the composition of certain quantities over time. For this, a 100% stacked area chart is sufficient. A 100% stacked area chart only differs from a stacked area chart visually: the stacked areas have the same length. This highlights the differences in the composition of each stacked area.
Step 1: Select the range of data that you want to visualize.
Step 2: Click Insert, then click Chart.
Step 3: The selected chart type is not a column chart by default. On the right side, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the Setup tab if it is not yet selected, then click the drop-down box below Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for the 100% stacked area chart, and click it.
Step 4: We now have a 100% stacked area chart. To add a title to the chart, go to the Customize tab in the Chart editor, then click Chart axis & titles.
Step 5: If you want to add a chart title, make sure that the drop-down box displays the option Chart title. On the text box below the drop-down box, type the title of the chart.
Step 6: Here are some options in modifying the title of the chart:
We now have the following chart!
Stepped area charts combine features of column and area charts, and can be used to show the progression of values over time. Once you have inserted a chart, go to the Chart editor. Click the Setup tab, then click the drop-down box below Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Take note of the following icons to select a type of stepped area chart:
Stepped area chart:
Stacked stepped area chart:
100% stacked stepped area chart:
The resulting charts are as follows:
Stepped area chart:
Stacked stepped area chart:
100% stacked stepped area chart:
If you got a bit lost, or just want to check if you are doing it right, here is a sample sheet that you can open to see how they work:
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