How to Create Area Charts in Excel
Area charts combine the benefits of line charts with visual emphasis on volume. Learn how to create effective area charts using our Excel Chart Generator.
Step-by-Step Guide
Prepare Your Data
Organize your data chronologically with cumulative or comparative values.
Upload Excel File
Upload your Excel file to our Chart Generator. We support both .xlsx and .xls formats.
Select Area Chart Type
Choose between basic area, stacked area, or 100% stacked area charts.
Customize Your Chart
Adjust fill colors, opacity, borders, and axis settings.
Types of Area Charts
Basic Area Charts
Basic area charts are best for:
- Showing volume over time
- Emphasizing magnitude
- Single data series trends
Stacked Area Charts
Stacked area charts are ideal for:
- Comparing part-to-whole
- Multiple series analysis
- Showing composition changes
Best Practices
- Start y-axis at zero
- Use semi-transparent fills
- Limit the number of areas (2-4 maximum)
- Order layers by size
- Use contrasting colors
Related Resources
When to Use Area Charts
Area charts are most effective when:
- Showing cumulative totals over time
- Comparing volumes between categories
- Visualizing part-to-whole relationships
- Emphasizing the magnitude of trends
- Displaying proportional changes
Area charts are particularly effective when you want to show how different parts contribute to a whole while also showing the total volume or magnitude. They combine the trend-tracking capabilities of line charts with the visual impact of filled areas.