Unsure which chart type to use? Click here to find the right chart for your data and the ideas that you want to convey.
Line charts consist of dots, representing data points, connected by a line. When plotting a metric, the x-axis is defined as the variable where the metric is dependent on, while the y-axis is the specific metric being visualized. Usually, the x-axis shows the time period the metric is measured. Line charts are therefore used to visualize changes in a metric over time.
Google Sheets offer three types of line charts, the simple line chart, the smooth line chart, and the combo chart (consists of a line chart and a bar chart).
The only difference between the simple line chart and the smooth line chart is that for the simple line chart, the data points are connected by straight lines, while for the smooth line chart involves a bit more processing to produce smooth, curving lines between points.
For the combo chart, you can have several series plotted as a line but only a single series plotted as a bar. The uppermost in the list of series in the Setup tab in the Chart editor takes precedence as the one plotted as a column chart.
This tutorial is a straightforward guide to inserting a line chart in Google Sheets with some notes on the type of data that it requires.
How to format your data for a line chart
The data for a line chart needs to have the following columns:
- First column: the data on the x-axis
- Second column: the data on the y-axis
- Succeeding columns: additional lines in the line chart, optional
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.
For the combo chart, you can have several series plotted as a line but only a single one as a bar. The uppermost in the list of series in the Setup tab in the Chart editor takes precedence as the one plotted as a column chart. This is often the second column, which represents the first column of data.
How to create a line chart
Here are the steps in creating a line chart from an existing dataset in Google Sheets:
Step 1: Select the range of data that you want to visualize.
Step 2: Click Insert, then click Chart.
Step 3: Sometimes, the default chart type applied is not a line chart. On the right side, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the drop-down box below the Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for the Line chart, and click it.
Step 4: We now have a line 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:
- To change the font of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font. There are 12 fonts to choose from, such as Arial, Georgia, and Verdana.
- To change the size of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font size. You can select from size 10 to 36. You can also specify a value beyond the given options. Lastly, you can choose Auto to let Google Sheets adjust the font size fit for the given chart.
- To center align the title, go to Title format, then click the Alignment option. Click the Center option.
We now have the following chart!
Click here to learn how to add the title or axis labels, as well as how to change the colors.
How to create a smooth line chart
The difference between a line chart and a smooth line chart is mainly a question of aesthetic preference. A line chart connects each point with a straight line, while a smooth line chart uses a curve to estimate the general trend of the data.
Before you follow the steps, make sure that your data 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 smooth line chart by default. On the right side, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the drop-down box below the Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for the Smooth line chart and click it.
Step 4: We now have a smooth line 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:
- To change the font of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font. There are 12 fonts to choose from such as Arial, Georgia, and Verdana.
- To change the size of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font size. You can select from a range of 10 to 36. You can also specify a value beyond the given options. Lastly, you can choose Auto to let Google Sheets adjust the font size fit for the given chart.
- To center align the title, go to Title format and click the Alignment option. Then click the Center option.
We now have the following chart!
Click here to learn how to add the title, axis labels, or change the colors.
How to create a combo chart
Google Sheets offers a combo chart as a combination of a column chart and a line chart. You can use a combo chart to present two different sets of data together. The first row of data becomes the column chart, while the rest of the rows become part of the line chart.
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 combo chart by default. On the right side, the Chart editor sidebar is loaded. Click the drop-down box below the Chart type. A list of possible chart types will be loaded. Look for the Combo chart and click it.
Step 4: We now have a combo 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:
- To change the font of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font. There are 12 fonts to choose from such as Arial, Georgia, and Verdana.
- To change the size of the title, click the drop-down box below the label Title font size. You can select from a range of 10 to 36. You can also specify a value beyond the given options. Lastly, you can choose Auto to let Google Sheets adjust the font size fit for the given chart.
- To center align the title, go to Title format and click the Alignment option. Click the Center option.
We now have the following chart!
Click here to learn how to add the title, axis labels, or change the colors.
A sample sheet to check
If you got a bit lost, or just want to check if you’re doing it right, here is a sample sheet that you can open to see how they work:
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