How to Make a Line Graph in Google Sheets

To make a line graph in Google Sheets, place dates or ordered labels in the first column and numeric series in the next columns. Select the table, choose Insert → Chart, and set Chart type to Line chart. Check the X-axis, series names, and date order before formatting the result.

This desktop-web tutorial uses six fictional months of online and store orders. Each row describes the same month for both channels, so the two lines share a time axis and a measurement unit. The aim is to show direction and turning points, not to explain what caused the change.

Google's line chart reference describes the expected row structure. The example figure below is rendered in Charttoolbox using the same values; it illustrates the data rather than the appearance of the Sheets interface.

1. Build a clean time-series table

Download the fictional monthly orders CSV and use File → Import in a blank Google spreadsheet. Check that Month, Online orders, and Store orders occupy A1:C7. Alternatively, enter these values directly.

Month,Online orders,Store orders
2026-01-01,120,98
2026-02-01,142,108
2026-03-01,136,115
2026-04-01,175,129
2026-05-01,190,151
2026-06-01,224,163

The first online value is 120 orders, the last is 224, and March falls slightly below February. Store orders rise from 98 to 163 over the sample. These invented observations demonstrate the workflow and are not a claim about a real business.

Use one row per month and one header per column. Leave totals, notes, and empty separator rows outside the chart range. A total is not a seventh month. If several rows describe the same date, decide whether to aggregate them or reshape the table into separate series before creating the chart.

2. Insert the line graph and check both series

1. Select A1:C7, including the three headers.
2. Choose Insert → Chart.
3. In Chart editor → Setup, select Line chart under Chart type.
4. Confirm the X-axis uses Month, with Online orders and Store orders as two series.
5. Use row 1 as headers where that option appears. If the months become separate series, review Switch rows / columns and the range.
6. Compare January and June against the source table before editing colors.

You should see two lines, not six lines for six months. Their legend names come from the numeric column headers. Double-click an existing chart to reopen the editor; the official chart editing guide explains range and chart-type changes.

3. Check whether the first column is really a date

A cell can display a date-like string without being a spreadsheet date. Select the Month cells and apply Format → Number → Date. Check the sheet's locale if imported text is interpreted unexpectedly. ISO-style entries such as 2026-01-01 help avoid ambiguous month/day order, but you should still inspect the imported values.

Sort the complete table by Month in ascending order, retaining the header. Sorting only the first column disconnects dates from their measurements. The sample is already chronological, so sorting should not change its pairs.

Evenly spaced monthly records hide a common axis problem: January, February, and June do not represent equal time gaps. Inspect the horizontal-axis treatment and available label settings if your dates are irregular. When elapsed time is essential, verify the resulting spacing against the actual intervals rather than assuming that a date-looking label guarantees a continuous time scale.

The Charttoolbox line graph maker has an explicit Date mode for YYYY-MM-DD dates and an Ordered labels mode for equal spacing. Those modes are separate from Sheets' own controls and should be chosen according to the question.

4. Label the chart so the lines are comparable

In Customize → Chart & axis titles, name the chart “Monthly orders by channel, January–June 2026.” State Orders on the value axis or in the surrounding description. Keep the legend visible so readers can identify the two channels.

Use Series settings to choose distinguishable colors and visible point markers for a small sample. Six markers help show the measured months. With hundreds of observations, markers and data labels may obscure the lines; reduce decoration and show only what readers need.

Compare series measured in the same unit. Revenue in dollars and conversion in percent do not become comparable simply because both can be plotted. Use separate charts for different quantities unless a carefully explained multi-axis design is necessary. This sample has order counts on both lines.

Handle gaps and avoid invented observations

A missing value is not automatically zero. Zero orders means an observed count of none; a blank may mean the report is unavailable. Inspect how the chart treats blank cells and any setting that connects missing observations. State gaps in the report, and do not fill them just to make a continuous line.

A straight segment between January and February does not show every day's actual result. A smooth line can make that implied interpolation even stronger. Start with a standard line chart, retain the original observations, and avoid describing between-point behavior that you did not measure.

Download from Sheets or recreate the chart locally

Choose the chart's three-dot menu → Download, then select PNG, SVG, or PDF. Downloading an image is different from publishing the spreadsheet. Google's save or publish reference explains both workflows.

For a separate Charttoolbox export, first format the selected date cells as yyyy-mm-dd using Format → Number → Custom date and time, and check that the displayed values match. Copy A1:C7 from the grid, open the line chart generator, choose Paste data, and paste the headers and values.

Select Month for X, both order columns as value series, and Dates for the X-axis mode. Review the preview, add a source note, choose a publication style, and download PNG or SVG. The tool allows 1–8 series, requires unique X labels, and blocks blank selected numeric cells. It creates a new chart from the copied values and does not synchronize later edits from Sheets.

Pasted spreadsheet contents are processed in your browser. Optional analytics loads only after consent and does not receive table contents. Keep the source workbook and recreate the chart whenever the reported period or measurements change.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add another line?

Yes. Add a numeric column for the same dates, extend the chart range, and check that it appears as another series. Keep the time intervals and measurement unit consistent.

Should I connect categories such as Search and Email?

Usually not. Those names have no necessary time order. A bar graph in Google Sheets compares their values without implying a sequence.

Can a rising line prove a campaign worked?

No. A line describes the recorded sequence. Seasonality, pricing, reporting changes, or other factors may explain a rise. A causal claim needs evidence beyond this chart.