average line graph

How To Add Average Line In Excel

Excel is a powerful tool that can help you organize and analyze your data. However, sometimes it can be difficult to interpret all of the information in a spreadsheet. One feature that can help with this is the average line. Adding an average line to your Excel chart can provide a clear visual representation of the average value of your data set, making it easier to identify trends and patterns.

If you’re not sure how to add an average line to your Excel chart, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Whether you’re a seasoned Excel user or just starting out, adding an average line is a useful skill to have in your arsenal. So, grab your mouse and let’s get started!

How to Add Average Line in Excel

Adding an Average Line in Excel

Excel is a powerful tool for analyzing data and creating visualizations. Adding an average line to a chart can be a great way to show the overall trend of the data. This article explains how to add an average line in Excel.

Preparing the Data

Before adding an average line, it is important to prepare the data. The data should be clean and organized. Make sure that all of the data is in the same format and that there are no discrepancies. Once the data is ready, open the data in Excel and create a chart.

Adding the Average Line

Once the chart is created, adding the average line is fairly simple. Select the chart and click on the “Layout” tab. Under the “Analysis” section, select “Average Line”. This will add an average line to the chart. The line will be the average of the values in the chart.

Changing the Average Line Color

The average line can be customized to make the chart more visually appealing. To change the color of the average line, right-click on the line and select “Format Data Series”. This will open the “Format Data Series” window. Select the “Fill & Line” tab and then select a color from the “Line Color” dropdown menu.

Adding a Label to the Average Line

Adding a label to the average line can be helpful for interpreting the chart. To add a label, right-click on the average line and select “Add Data Labels”. This will add a label to the average line with the value of the average. The label can be customized by selecting the label and then clicking on the “Format” tab.

Customizing the Average Line

The average line can also be customized by changing the line style, width, and opacity. To do this, right-click on the average line and select “Format Data Series”. This will open the “Format Data Series” window. Select the “Line” tab and then select a line style, width, and opacity. Once the customization is complete, click “OK”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adding an average line to a graph in Microsoft Excel is a useful way to compare the data of two or more sets. It can help you visualize trends, spot outliers, and identify any irregularities. Read on to learn how to add an average line in Excel.

How do I add an average line to my graph in Excel?

To add an average line to your graph in Excel, you first need to create a new column in your data set that contains the average of the two or more sets. To do this, select the cells containing the data for the sets you want to average, then click the ‘Formulas’ tab at the top of the window and select ‘Average’ from the drop-down menu. Once you’ve added the average column, select the range of cells containing the data, then click the ‘Insert’ tab at the top of the window and select ‘Line’ from the ‘Charts’ group. In the ‘Chart’ window, select the ‘Average’ column as the data series, then click ‘OK’ to add the average line to your graph.

How can I customize the average line in Excel?

Once you’ve added the average line to your graph in Excel, you can customize it to better suit your needs. To do this, right-click on the average line and select ‘Format Data Series’ from the drop-down menu. In the ‘Format Data Series’ window, you can change the color and line style of the average line, as well as add markers and a trendline. You can also add a label to the average line to make it easier to identify. To add a label, click the ‘Label’ tab in the ‘Format Data Series’ window and select ‘Average’ from the drop-down menu.

How do I remove the average line in Excel?

To remove an average line from your graph in Excel, right-click on the line and select ‘Delete’ from the drop-down menu. This will remove the line from your graph. If you want to keep the average line, but don’t want it to be visible, you can right-click on the line and select ‘Format Data Series’ from the drop-down menu. In the ‘Format Data Series’ window, you can select ‘No Line’ in the ‘Line’ section to make the line invisible.

Can I add more than one average line to my graph in Excel?

Yes, you can add multiple average lines to your graph in Excel. To do this, you will need to create multiple average columns in your data set, then add each average line to the graph. To add multiple average lines, click the ‘Insert’ tab at the top of the window and select ‘Line’ from the ‘Charts’ group. In the ‘Chart’ window, select the range of cells containing the data for the sets you want to average, then click ‘OK’ to add the average lines to your graph.

How can I add a legend to my graph in Excel?

To add a legend to your graph in Excel, click the ‘Layout’ tab at the top of the window and select ‘Legend’ from the ‘Chart Layouts’ group. In the ‘Legend’ window, you can select the data series you want to include in the legend. You can also customize the legend by changing the font, font size, and font color. Once you’ve finished customizing the legend, click ‘OK’ to add it to your graph.

How to Add an Average Line in an Excel Graph


In conclusion, adding an average line in Excel can be a valuable tool for anyone who needs to analyze data and identify trends. Whether you’re a business owner trying to forecast sales or a student analyzing survey results, this feature can save you time and help you make more informed decisions.

By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you can easily add an average line to your Excel charts and graphs. So why not take advantage of this powerful feature and start getting more out of your data today? With a little practice, you’ll be able to create professional-looking charts that clearly illustrate your findings and impress your audience.

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