Present your data in a scatter chart or a line chart

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Scatter charts and line charts look very similar, especially when a scatter chart is displayed with connecting lines. However, the way each of these chart types plots data along the horizontal axis (also known as the x-axis) and the vertical axis (also known as the y-axis) is very different.

Note: For information about the different types of scatter and line charts, see Available chart types in Office.

Before you choose either of these chart types, you might want to learn more about the differences and find out when it's better to use a scatter chart instead of a line chart, or the other way around.

Learn about the differences between scatter and line charts

Know when to use a scatter or line chart

Windows macOS

Note: The following procedure applies to Office 2013 and newer versions. Office 2010 steps?

Create a scatter chart

So, how did we create this scatter chart? The following procedure will help you create a scatter chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data.

Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data you want to plot in a scatter chart.
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2
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5
6
7
8
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11
A
B
Daily Rainfall
Particulate
4.1
122
4.3
117
5.7
112
5.4
114
5.9
110
5.0
114
3.6
128
1.9
137
7.3
104
Select the data you want to plot in the scatter chart.
Click the Insert tab, and then click Insert Scatter (X, Y) or Bubble Chart.
Click Scatter.
Tip: You can rest the mouse on any chart type to see its name.
Click the chart area of the chart to display the Design and Format tabs.
Click the Design tab, and then click the chart style you want to use.
Click the chart title and type the text you want.
To change the font size of the chart title, right-click the title, click Font, and then enter the size that you want in the Size box. Click OK.
Click the chart area of the chart.
On the Design tab, click Add Chart Element > Axis Titles, and then do the following:
1. To add a horizontal axis title, click Primary Horizontal.
2. To add a vertical axis title, click Primary Vertical.
3. Click each title, type the text that you want, and then press Enter.
4. For more title formatting options, on the Format tab, in the Chart Elements box, select the title from the list, and then click Format Selection. A Format Title pane will appear. Click Size & Properties , and then you can choose Vertical alignment, Text direction, or Custom angle.
Click the plot area of the chart, or on the Format tab, in the Chart Elements box, select Plot Area from the list of chart elements.
On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the More button , and then click the effect that you want to use.
Click the chart area of the chart, or on the Format tab, in the Chart Elements box, select Chart Area from the list of chart elements.
On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the More button , and then click the effect that you want to use.
If you want to use theme colors that are different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
1. On the Page Layout tab, in the Themes group, click Themes.
2. Under Office, click the theme that you want to use.

Create a line chart

So, how did we create this line chart? The following procedure will help you create a line chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data.

Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot into a line chart.
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
A
B
C
Date
Daily Rainfall
Particulate
1/1/07
4.1
122
1/2/07
4.3
117
1/3/07
5.7
112
1/4/07
5.4
114
1/5/07
5.9
110
1/6/07
5.0
114
1/7/07
3.6
128
1/8/07
1.9
137
1/9/07
7.3
104
Select the data that you want to plot in the line chart.
Click the Insert tab, and then click Insert Line or Area Chart.
Click Line with Markers.
Click the chart area of the chart to display the Design and Format tabs.
Click the Design tab, and then click the chart style you want to use.
Click the chart title and type the text you want.
To change the font size of the chart title, right-click the title, click Font, and then enter the size that you want in the Size box. Click OK.
Click the chart area of the chart.
On the chart, click the legend, or add it from a list of chart elements (on the Design tab, click Add Chart Element > Legend, and then select a location for the legend).
To plot one of the data series along a secondary vertical axis, click the data series, or select it from a list of chart elements (on the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Chart Elements).
On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection. The Format Data Series task pane appears.
Under Series Options, select Secondary Axis, and then click Close.
On the Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click Add Chart Element, and then do the following:
1. To add a primary vertical axis title, click Axis Title >Primary Vertical. and then on the Format Axis Title pane, click Size & Properties to configure the type of vertical axis title that you want.
2. To add a secondary vertical axis title, click Axis Title > Secondary Vertical, and then on the Format Axis Title pane, click Size & Properties to configure the type of vertical axis title that you want.
3. Click each title, type the text that you want, and then press Enter
Click the plot area of the chart, or select it from a list of chart elements (Format tab, Current Selection group, Chart Elements box).
On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the More button , and then click the effect that you want to use.
Click the chart area of the chart.
On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the More button , and then click the effect that you want to use.
If you want to use theme colors that are different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
1. On the Page Layout tab, in the Themes group, click Themes.
2. Under Office, click the theme that you want to use.