Table of Contents
Plotting a time series in Excel is a useful way to visualize changes over time. It involves creating a graph with a time period (e.g. month, year, etc.) on the x-axis and a measure of the data (e.g. sales, profit, etc.) on the y-axis. This can be done by selecting the data to be plotted, clicking the Insert tab, and selecting the type of chart desired. An example of this could be plotting monthly sales data for a business over the course of a year.
This tutorial provides a step-by-step example of how to plot the following time series in Excel:
Let’s jump in!
Step 1: Enter the Time Series Data
First, let’s enter the following values for a time series dataset in Excel:
Step 2: Plot the Time Series
Next, highlight the values in the range A2:B20:
Then click the Insert tab along the top ribbon, then click the icon called Scatter with Smooth Lines and Markers within the Charts group:
The following chart will automatically appear:
The x-axis shows the date and the y-axis shows the sales.
Step 3: Customize the Time Series Plot
Lastly, we can customize the plot to make it easier to read.
Double click any of the values on the x-axis. In the Format Axis panel that appears, click the icon called Size & Properties and type -45 in the box titled Custom angle:
Lastly, click on the Chart Title and change it to whatever you’d like.
Then click the labels on each axis and make them bold:
The time series plot is now complete.