How to Make an Area Chart in Excel

Create Area Charts using Excel QI Macros:

  1. Select your data.
  2. Click on QI Macros menu > Excel Charts > Area Chart.
  3. QI Macros will do the math and analysis for you.

Go Deeper: Area Charts are Line Graphs Filled with Colors Below the Lines

Area charts can display each data set separately, like looking at several mountain ranges in the distance, or they can be stacked on top of each other to show the contribution of each data set to the whole.

Area Chart

Each Data Set Is Shown Separately
Watch for Data that may be Hidden like Plant 1

area chart created in Excel

Stacked Area Chart

Data is Stacked to Show the
Contribution of Each Set to the Total

stacked area chart in Excel


To Create an Area Chart in Excel

Just select your data, then click on the Insert Tab, then Area. There are various choices of area shapes (2-D, 3-D) and formats (area, stacked or 100% stacked.)

how to make area chart in excel

Consider a Pareto Chart to Analyze The Same Data

If you are just interested in the total amount each data series contributes to the whole, you can run a Pareto chart on the totals. While its possible to create pareto charts in Excel, its time consuming, complicated, and the charts don't look as nice as the ones created by QI Macros. Save yourself time and headaches by using QI Macros. Download a 30 day trial and try it now.

Pareto Chart data set
pareto of totals

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