There is a wide variety of graph types in Google Sheets. One of these graphs is the line graph. Line graphs are used to demonstrate trends in a spreadsheet. The line graph itself has multiple variations. Once you learn what scenario each type is useful for, creating line graphs is a piece of cake.

What Is a Line Graph?

A line graph or a line chart is a graphic that’s used to visualize data to show a trend. Line graphs make it easier for you, and your audience, to tell the direction a series of data is headed.

You can’t just use any graph for visualizing any set of data. Graphs have optimal output when they’re used in the right context, and line graphs are best used to show trends.

There are types of line graphs in Google Sheets:

Line chart: The basic line chart. Data are shown as points on the chart and connected to each other through lines. Smooth line chart: Essentially the same as the line chart, with a minor visual twitch that makes the lines smooth. Combo chart: Combines the column chart and the line chart together and displays data from different series in one graph.

How to Create a Line Graph in Google Sheets

As an example, we’re going to make a line graph for the total and annual views of a viral video from the years 2018 to 2021. To do this, you could either create the line graph first and then add the numbers and labels, or add them and then create a graph. Circumstances usually demand that you choose the latter path, hence we’re going to take that path as well.

Enter the data into your spreadsheet. Select all the cells. To do this, you can select one cell and then drag and drop the selection to the last cell on the opposite side. From the Sheets menu, select Insert. Select Chart. Sheets will create a graph for the cells you’ve selected. The graph type (line, column, pie, etc. ) is automatically decided by Sheets, based on a prediction. In this case, it’s likely that you get a line graph.

If you didn’t get the line graph automatically, you could also manually select it.

In Chart editor, under the Setup tab, click Chart type to see a drop-down menu of available graph types. Select Line chart.

How to Create a Combo Chart in Google Sheets

The combo chart display data in a combination of line and column graphs. Therefore, the combo chart needs at least two series to combine and demonstrate. If you want to display a single series of numbers, then you should stick to either the line graph or the column graph, depending on your needs.

Let’s create a combo chart for the example spreadsheet used in the previous section.

Select all the cells. Open the Insert menu. Select Chart. Once your graph is created, go to the Setup tab in Chart editor. Select Chart type and change it to Combo chart. Sheets will now create a combo chart.

If you want to have a different series demonstrated with a line graph and the other with a column graph, you can easily swap the two in Chart editor.

Select the chart. Click the three vertical dots in the top-left corner and then select Edit chart from the menu. This will open Chart editor. Under the Setup tab in Chart editor, go to the Series section. Click the first series and select the one that you want to display with a column graph. Click the second series and then select the one that you want to display with a line graph.

There you have it! Your combo chart is sure to make comprehending the data table much easier.

Graphs are brilliant graphics that help you visualize your data tables in Google Sheets. Line graphs are mostly used to show trends in a series, though you can use the Combo chart to combine columns and lines to visualize multiple series in a single graph.

Google Sheets is an easy-to-use, and yet sophisticated tool. Mastering it will definitely give you an advantage when dealing with numbers.