How to Make an Area Chart (and When to Use One)

Published October 11, 2026

Free tool: Area Chart Maker→

An area chart is a line graph with the space under the line filled in. The line still shows the trend, while the filled area emphasizes the size of the values: how much traffic, revenue or rainfall there was, not just whether it went up or down. This guide explains when an area chart is the right choice, how to set up your data and how to make one with the free Area Chart Maker.

When to use an area chart

An area chart works well when:

• You're showing an amount over time and the size matters as much as the trend, such as monthly revenue, daily visitors or energy use.
• You want a chart with more visual weight than a thin line, for a dashboard or a presentation slide.
• The values are counts or amounts that start from zero, so the filled area really represents a quantity.

A plain line graph is better when you care about precise values or small changes, and a bar graph is better for comparing separate categories.

Area chart vs line graph

The filled area tells readers to think about volume. That's helpful for totals, such as "we served 35,000 customers in April", but it can mislead for values that don't measure an amount from zero, such as temperatures or exchange rates, where the shaded area has no real meaning. For those, use a line graph.

Step 1: Set up your data

You need labels in order, usually time periods, and a value for each. For example, a café's customers by month, in thousands:

Use regular intervals, such as every month, because the chart spaces the labels evenly.

Step 2: Make the area chart with Graph Maker

1. Open the Area Chart Maker. It works in your browser, with no sign-up.
2. Type a chart title, such as "Customers per Month".
3. Enter the data. With Combined (Label:Value), type the pairs: Jan:10,Feb:25,Mar:18,Apr:35,May:30. Or choose Separate Labels & Values and type the labels and values in their own boxes, in the same order. Type numbers without thousands separators.
4. Add the axis titles, such as "Month" and "Customers (thousands)".
5. Choose the fill type: Smooth Curve for a softer line or Straight Lines to join the points directly.
6. Pick the colors. Area Color sets the line and its shaded fill, which fades toward the bottom; you can also set the background, title and font colors.
7. Download the chart as a PNG, JPG or SVG.

Hover over the chart to see the value at each point.

Tips for a clear area chart

• Start the vertical axis at zero. The shaded area only represents the amount correctly if it starts at zero, and the maker does this for you.
• Label the units on the vertical axis, including "thousands" or "$" where needed.
• Prefer straight lines for separate measurements. A smooth curve suggests values between the points that weren't measured.
• Keep the background plain so the shaded area stands out.
• Explain the peaks. A short note in your text, such as "April's jump came from a new menu", turns the shape into a story.

Frequently asked questions

What is an area chart used for?

Showing how an amount changes over time while emphasizing its size, such as revenue, website traffic, sales volume or energy use.

What's the difference between an area chart and a line graph?

They show the same data, but an area chart fills the space under the line. The fill emphasizes volume, so area charts suit amounts that start from zero, while line graphs suit any values and make precise comparisons easier.

Can an area chart show more than one series?

Some area charts stack several series on top of each other to show the parts of a total. The Area Chart Maker draws one series, which keeps the chart easy to read; to compare groups side by side, a grouped bar graph works well.