![Excel Charts Tutorial](/excel_charts/images/excel-charts-mini-logo.jpg)
- Excel Charts Tutorial
- Excel Charts - Home
- Excel Charts - Introduction
- Excel Charts - Creating Charts
- Excel Charts - Types
- Excel Charts - Column Chart
- Excel Charts - Line Chart
- Excel Charts - Pie Chart
- Excel Charts - Doughnut Chart
- Excel Charts - Bar Chart
- Excel Charts - Area Chart
- Excel Charts - Scatter (X Y) Chart
- Excel Charts - Bubble Chart
- Excel Charts - Stock Chart
- Excel Charts - Surface Chart
- Excel Charts - Radar Chart
- Excel Charts - Combo Chart
- Excel Charts - Chart Elements
- Excel Charts - Chart Styles
- Excel Charts - Chart Filters
- Excel Charts - Fine Tuning
- Excel Charts - Design Tools
- Excel Charts - Quick Formatting
- Excel Charts - Aesthetic Data Labels
- Excel Charts - Format Tools
- Excel Charts - Sparklines
- Excel Charts - PivotCharts
- Excel Charts Useful Resources
- Excel Charts - Quick Guide
- Excel Charts - Useful Resources
- Excel Charts - Discussion
Excel Charts - Area Chart
Area charts can be used to plot change over time (years, months and days) or categories and draw attention to the total value across a trend. By showing the sum of the plotted values, an Area chart also shows the relationship of parts to a whole.
You can use Area charts to highlight the magnitude of change over time.
Step 1 − Arrange the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.
Step 2 − Select the data.
Step 3 − On the INSERT tab, in the Charts group, click the Area chart icon on the Ribbon.
![Insert Area Chart](/excel_charts/images/insert_area_chart.jpg)
You will see the different types of available Area charts.
An Area Chart has the following sub-types −
2-D Area Charts
Area
Stacked Area
100% Stacked Area
3-D Area Charts
3-D Area
3-D Stacked Area
3-D 100% Stacked Area
![Types of Area Chart](/excel_charts/images/types_of_area_chart.jpg)
Step 4 − Point your mouse on each of the icons. A preview of that chart type will be shown on the worksheet.
![Preview of Area Chart](/excel_charts/images/preview_area_chart.jpg)
Step 5 − Double-Click the chart type that suits your data. In this chapter, you will understand when each of the Area Chart Types is useful.
Area and 3-D Area
These chart types are useful to show the trend of values over time or other category data.
An Area chart shows the values in 2-D format. A 3-D Area chart shows values in 3-D format. 3-D Area charts use three axes (horizontal, vertical, and depth) that you can change.
![Area and 3-D Area](/excel_charts/images/area_and_3d_area.jpg)
You can use Area charts −
When the category order is important.
To highlight the magnitude of change over time.
As you can see in the screen shot given above, in a non-Stacked Area chart, the data from one series can be hidden behind the data from another series. In such a case, use a line chart or a stacked area chart.
Stacked Area and 3-D Stacked Area
Stacked Area charts are useful to show the trend of the contribution of each value over time or other category data in 2-D format. 3-D Stacked Area charts are also useful for the same but they show areas in 3-D format without using a depth axis.
![Stacked Area](/excel_charts/images/stacked_area.jpg)
You can use Stacked Area charts to −
Highlight the magnitude of change over time.
Draw attention to the total value across a trend.
100% Stacked Area and 3-D 100% Stacked Area
100% Stacked Area charts are useful to show the trend of the percentage that each value contributes over time or other category data. 100% 3-D Stacked Area charts are also useful for the same, but they show areas in 3-D format without using a depth axis.
![100percent Stacked Area](/excel_charts/images/100percent_stacked_area.jpg)
You can use 100% Stacked Area charts to −
Draw attention to the total value across a trend.
Highlight the magnitude of change to the percentage that each value contributes over time.