Area Chart Maker
Paste your data and get a filled trend chart in seconds - free, no signup.
What this tool does
Paste your data as label, value pairs in plotting order - one per line - and this draws an area chart instantly: the same trend line as a line chart, with the region beneath it filled in to emphasise the volume or magnitude of the values, not just their direction. It reads a straight paste from a spreadsheet and exports as a PNG for a slide or an SVG for print.
Draws an area chart from data you paste, type or load from a CSV file, filling the region under the trend line.
Reports the total, highest and lowest values alongside the chart, which the fill is well suited to representing visually.
How to use it
- Enter your data one line at a time as label, value, in the order you want the points plotted left to right.
- Add a Y-axis label and a chart title if you want them.
- Pick a colour palette and export as PNG or SVG.
Why use this chart maker
An area chart emphasises volume under a trend, which suits totals over time. Filling the area makes cumulative size obvious.
Why we built it
We built the area chart maker to fill down to zero or the lowest value, never an arbitrary baseline that would exaggerate the shape. Use the line chart maker for pure trends and the stacked bar chart maker for parts of a whole.
If your task goes further, try the Bubble Chart Maker.
Who this tool is for
- Analysts showing cumulative or total change
- Bloggers and reporters
- Students
When to use it
- Showing volume or total over time.
- Reports and presentations.
- Traffic, sales or usage trends.
- Comparing magnitude.
Area chart vs line chart: when the fill matters
The same trend, a different emphasis.
An area chart and a line chart plot exactly the same data the same way - the only difference is the shaded region under the line. That fill draws the eye to magnitude and accumulated volume rather than pure direction, which is why area charts suit things like website visitors, stock levels, or rainfall, where the size of the value at each point matters as much as whether it went up or down. A line chart alone is often clearer for something like a stock price, where the direction of change is the main story and a filled area beneath an arbitrary y-axis zero doesn't mean much.
Where the fill can mislead
Because the fill draws attention to area, an area chart with a y-axis that doesn't start at zero can visually exaggerate a small change - the shaded region looks proportionally larger than the actual percentage difference warrants. This tool always fills down to zero (or to the lowest value if your data goes negative), which keeps the visual area honestly proportional to the underlying numbers rather than artificially inflating small differences.
What you give it, and what you get back
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Input | Label and value lines in order, or a CSV. |
| Output | A filled trend chart with total, highest and lowest values. |
| Export | Save the chart. |
Issues you may run into
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Order looks wrong | Points are plotted in input order. | Sort first. |
| A row is skipped | It does not match the expected format. | Check the message listing unreadable lines and fix them. |
| Unfilled line preferred | The area is filled. | Use the line chart. |
Assumptions and limitations
- This plots one filled value series in the order the rows are entered - reorder your data before pasting if the order isn't already what you want plotted.
- For an unfilled trend line, use the line chart maker, which shares the same plotting engine.
- The chart is drawn as SVG and exported to PNG at a fixed resolution suited to slides and documents, not large-format print.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an area chart online for free?
Paste your data as label, value pairs in the order you want them plotted - one per line, or straight out of a spreadsheet - and the chart draws instantly with the area beneath the line filled in. Download it as a PNG or SVG when you're happy with it.
What is the difference between an area chart and a line chart?
They plot identical data the same way - an area chart just fills the region under the line, which emphasises volume and magnitude rather than pure direction. Use an area chart when the size of the value matters (like traffic or rainfall), and a plain line chart when the trend's direction is the main point.
When should I use an area chart instead of a line chart?
When the values represent an accumulating or volume-like quantity - visitors, stock, rainfall - where seeing the filled space helps convey scale. For something like a stock price or a temperature reading, where an arbitrary zero doesn't mean much, a plain line chart is usually clearer.
Can I paste data from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes - copy a label column and a value column, in plotting order, and paste it straight into the data box. Tabs, commas and semicolons are detected automatically, and a header row is recognised and skipped.
Can I download the chart as an image?
Yes - PNG for a slide, document or social post, or SVG for print or further editing. Both download directly with no watermark.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The chart is drawn entirely in your browser using the data you type or paste - nothing is sent to a server, and closing the tab clears it.