Area Chart Maker
Paste periods and values, or upload a spreadsheet, and get an area chart that shades the volume under each line. Download as PNG or Excel.
- Runs in your browser
- Free
- No sign-up
Paste cells from Excel or Google Sheets, or type rows separated by tabs or commas.
Chart data as a table
| Month | Heating | Cooling |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 820 | 40 |
| Feb | 760 | 45 |
| Mar | 540 | 70 |
| Apr | 310 | 160 |
| May | 150 | 340 |
| Jun | 60 | 610 |
| Jul | 40 | 780 |
| Aug | 45 | 740 |
How to Make a Area Chart Online
- Add your data. Paste cells copied from Excel or Google Sheets into the Data box, or upload an .xlsx, .xls or .csv file. The sample data shows the layout.
- Check the headers. The first row is used as column names when it has no numbers in it; untick "First row is headers" if that guess is wrong.
- Give the chart a title. It is drawn at the top of the image and used for the file names.
- Download. PNG for slides, documents and email (drawn at twice the on-screen size so it stays sharp), SVG for print and the web, or Excel for the numbers behind the chart.
When to Use a Area Chart
An area chart is a line graph with the space under the line filled in. The fill emphasizes volume, so it suits totals that build up over time: energy used, revenue, website traffic, inventory on hand.
With two or three series the shaded areas overlap with transparency, so you can still see each one. With many series, a line graph is easier to read.
How to Lay Out Your Data
Periods in the first column, in order, and one column of numbers per area after it. The fill runs down to zero, so negative values shade below the zero line.
How to Make a Area Chart in Excel
To build the same chart natively in Excel, download the Excel file above (or use your own sheet) and:
- Select the periods and the value columns, including headers.
- Go to Insert > Insert Line or Area Chart.
- Choose Area to overlap the series, or Stacked Area to pile them into a running total.
- With overlapping areas, set each series' fill transparency (Format Data Series > Fill) so the back series stays visible.
What This Area Chart Maker Does Not Do
- Areas overlap; they are not stacked. For a stacked area, use the Excel download and choose Stacked Area in Excel.
- Points are evenly spaced in row order, as on the line graph.
Other Chart Makers
Every chart maker takes the same pasted or uploaded data, and you can switch type in the Chart type box without retyping anything. To chart a whole workbook column by column, with grouping by sum, count or average, use the Excel chart maker.
- Bar Graph Maker: Compare categories as bars; paste data, download PNG or Excel.
- Line Graph Maker: Plot a trend over time with one line per series.
- Pie Chart Maker: Show parts of a whole with percentages worked out.
- Scatter Plot Maker: Plot X against Y to see whether two numbers are related.
- Doughnut Chart Maker: A pie chart with the total shown in the center.
- Radar Chart Maker: Compare profiles across several attributes on a spider chart.
- Histogram Maker: Count a column of numbers into bins to see its spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use an area chart when the size of the total matters, not just its direction, and there are only a few series. When you need to compare several series precisely, lines are clearer because filled areas hide each other.
In an area chart, each series is measured from zero and the areas overlap. In a stacked area chart, each series sits on top of the one below, so the top edge is the total. This tool draws overlapping areas.
Yes. The axis extends below zero and a negative stretch is shaded between the line and the zero line.
It contains the chart's data, laid out the way Excel's Insert > Chart expects, not a chart object. Open it, select the cells and insert the chart type named in the steps above; it takes a few seconds and gives you a native chart you can restyle. For a finished picture, use Download PNG.
No. Pasted data and uploaded files are read and drawn in your browser, and the PNG, SVG and Excel files are made there too. Nothing is sent to a server.