How to make a line chart in Excel
Line charts are the right pick for anything that changes over time — revenue, traffic, temperature. The trick is handling dates and multiple series cleanly. Here's how, and the one-click alternative.
When to reach for a line chart
Lines are made for time — they turn a column of dated values into a readable rise, dip or cycle.
Track over time
Revenue, signups, traffic — anything with a date axis.
Compare series
Plot this year vs last year on the same lines.
Spot trend & seasonality
Lines make rises, dips and repeating cycles obvious.
How to make one in Excel
The two things to get right are the date axis and the number of series on the chart.
Put time on the left
Dates or periods in the first column, values in the next; one row per point, in order.
Insert the chart
Select the range, then Insert › Charts › Line (or Line with Markers for few points).
Fix the date axis
Right-click the X axis → Format Axis → set it to a Date axis so uneven gaps space correctly.
Add series & legend
Extra value columns become extra lines; add a legend and direct labels for clarity.
Two things trip people up: Excel sometimes treats dates as plain text (so January and March sit the same distance apart as January and February), and too many series turn a line chart into spaghetti. Force a proper date axis, and keep it to a few lines — if you need more, small multiples or a highlighted single series read far better.
The faster way — skip the setup
Coaxing the date axis and juggling several series gets old fast. DataHub Pro handles the time series for you.
Watch the date axis
- Coax Excel into a real date axis
- Manage multiple series and the legend
- Handle gaps and missing dates
- Rebuild when data updates
Time series, handled
- Upload the file — dates parsed correctly
- Multiple series and gaps handled
- Trend and seasonality detected
- Straight into a dashboard or report
FAQ
How do I make a line chart in Excel?
Put your dates or time periods in the first column and values in the next, select the range, then choose Insert › Charts › Line. Set the horizontal axis to a Date axis so the points space correctly.
Why are my dates not spacing correctly on the line chart?
Excel is treating them as text or as evenly spaced categories. Right-click the horizontal axis, choose Format Axis, and set the Axis Type to Date axis so gaps reflect the real time between points.
How do I plot two lines on one chart?
Add each series as its own value column next to the dates, then select all the columns when you insert the chart. Each value column becomes a separate line; add a legend to tell them apart.
Keep exploring
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Trends without the date-axis headache
Upload an Excel or CSV file and DataHub Pro plots the time series and surfaces the trend for you. Free to try, no card.
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