How to make a line graph
ChartMake generates a line graph from your data in seconds. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Enter your data. Type your labels (typically time points like months, years, or days) and corresponding values into the table. Or click Paste CSV to import two columns directly from a spreadsheet.
- Select line graph. Click the line icon in the chart type bar at the top of the left panel. Your data will immediately redraw as a smooth line graph.
- Adjust the style. Choose a colour palette, show or hide the grid lines, and move the legend to your preferred position. The filled area below the line can give the chart a more striking, modern look.
- Add a title. Click the title field above the chart and type a clear, descriptive heading. This is included in your PNG export.
- Download. Click Download PNG for an instant, high-resolution export ready to paste into a report, presentation, or document.
When to use a line graph
Line graphs are the natural choice whenever your data has a continuous or ordered sequence — most commonly time. If you can ask "how did this change over time?", a line graph is almost certainly the right answer.
They are particularly effective at revealing trends, cycles, growth rates, and the relationship between two points. Readers can instantly see whether a value is rising, falling, accelerating, or levelling off.
Use a bar chart instead when your categories have no meaningful order (e.g. country comparisons) or when you want to emphasise individual values rather than the trend between them.
Line graph use cases
Line graph design tips
- Keep the y-axis starting at zero unless you are intentionally highlighting small fluctuations in a narrow range — and always label clearly when you do not start at zero.
- Use smooth curves (as ChartMake does by default) rather than sharp angles when your data represents a continuous trend. Sharp lines suggest your data has discrete jumps, which can be misleading.
- Add data point markers if you have fewer than 12 data points. For dense time series (weekly or daily data), remove markers to reduce visual clutter.
- If your line graph is for a printed report, check it looks clear in greyscale — your readers may print in black and white.
- Label the most important point directly on the line rather than relying solely on the legend. "Peak: June 2025" placed next to the highest point is far more readable than a legend entry at the bottom.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a line graph for free?
Yes. ChartMake is completely free. Create a line graph and download a PNG without an account or payment details.
What is a line graph best used for?
Line graphs are best for showing how a value changes over time — monthly sales, temperature readings, website traffic, test scores across a term, or any ordered sequence of measurements.
Can I plot multiple lines on one graph?
ChartMake currently supports single-series line graphs. For multi-series charts, create separate exports and combine them in a document or slide. Multi-series support is planned for a future update.
How do I import data from a spreadsheet?
Click Paste CSV in the data panel, then paste two columns of data with one row per line (e.g. Jan,420). ChartMake parses the labels and values and redraws your line graph immediately.
Can I use a line graph for data that is not time-based?
Yes. Line graphs work for any ordered sequence — distance vs speed, altitude vs temperature, or chapter number vs word count. If your categories have no natural order, a bar chart is usually clearer.
What is the difference between a line graph and a line chart?
They are the same thing. "Line graph" and "line chart" are interchangeable terms. Some style guides prefer one or the other, but there is no functional difference.