Line Chart

A line chart connects observations in order, usually over time. The position of each point shows its value. The connecting line makes rises, falls, and changes in direction easier to follow.

Orders by monthSample data

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Read the direction and the scale

Orders rise overall in this example, but not every month. They fall from 145 in February to 132 in March, then increase to 210 in June.

A steep line can result from a large change, a short time interval, or a narrow vertical scale. Check both axes before judging the size of a change.

When to use a line chart

Use a line chart for measurements with a meaningful order: daily signups, hourly temperature, or monthly active users. Use a bar chart for unrelated categories. Connecting countries or product names with a line can imply an order that does not exist.

For irregular time intervals, use a time axis so the spacing reflects elapsed time. Equally spaced labels are suitable for the equal monthly reporting intervals shown here.

Avoid misleading connections

Keep missing observations as gaps unless you have a reason to estimate them. Replacing a missing value with zero creates a false drop. Connecting across a gap can suggest a measurement that was never made.

A line chart can use a non-zero value-axis minimum when small changes matter, but label that scale clearly. Use the same scale when comparing charts.

Limit the number of lines, label series clearly, and avoid smoothing that implies unobserved peaks. For filled regions or parts of a total, see area charts and stacked area charts.