How to Add an Average Line in Excel Chart: Easy Guide

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In Excel, adding an average line to a chart is a great way to provide visual context to your data, allowing users to quickly assess trends, performance, or any variations from the overall average. Whether you’re working with line charts, column charts, or other chart types, incorporating an average line helps enhance the data’s interpretability.

In this guide, we will go over the step-by-step process of adding an average line to your Excel chart. We will also include useful tips for customizing the line, adjusting its appearance, and ensuring that the average line updates dynamically if your data changes.

Why Add an Average Line to a Chart?

An average line in a chart can provide valuable insights for the following reasons:

• Visual comparison: Easily compare individual data points to the average.
• Identifying trends: Quickly detect whether data points are consistently above or below the average.
• Better data analysis: It simplifies recognizing outliers or patterns in the dataset.

By adding an average line to a chart, Excel makes it simple for you to analyze your data visually and identify key trends.

Step 1: Calculate the Average in Excel

Before adding an average line to your chart, the first step is to calculate the average of your dataset. This can be done using the AVERAGE function in Excel.

1. Create a new column next to your data and label it “Average.”
2. Use the AVERAGE function to calculate the average of your dataset. For instance, if your data is in cells B2 to B7, the formula would look like:
   =AVERAGE($B$2:$B$7)
3. Drag the formula down the new column to apply the average value for all rows in the column. This ensures that the average is calculated for each data point.

The calculated average will now be visible in the column, ready for use in the chart.

Step 2: Add the Average Data to the Chart

After calculating the average, the next step is to add this average data to the chart.

1. Highlight your data range, including the original data and the newly added “Average” column.
2. Insert a chart:
   • Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
   • Choose a chart type (e.g., Column Chart, Line Chart, or Bar Chart) that suits your data.
   • If you already have a chart, you can skip this step and proceed to the next one.

Now, your chart will include both your original data and the average data as two separate series.

Step 3: Add Average Line to an Existing Chart

If you’re working with an existing chart and want to add the average line, follow these simple steps.

1. Right-click on the chart, and choose Select Data from the context menu.
2. In the Select Data Source dialog box, click Add under the “Legend Entries (Series)” section.
3. For the Series Name, select the header of the “Average” column.
4. For the Series Values, select the range of average values that you just calculated in the new column.

Once you’ve done this, the chart will show both the original data series and the newly added average series.

Step 4: Change Average Series to a Line

By default, the average series will be displayed in the same format as your original data, such as a column or bar. To make it stand out as an average line, you’ll need to change its chart type.

1. Right-click on any element of the average series in your chart.
2. Choose Change Series Chart Type from the context menu.
3. In the dialog box, set the original data series to a bar or column chart (if that’s the chart type you’re using), and change the average series to a Line chart.
4. Click OK to apply the changes.

Now, your average series will be represented as a line on the chart.

Step 5: Customize the Average Line

To make the average line more visually distinct, you can customize its appearance. Excel provides several options to adjust the color, thickness, and style of the line.

1. Right-click on the average line and choose Format Data Series.
2. In the Format Data Series pane, you can:
   • Change the line color to something that contrasts with the rest of your chart.
   • Adjust the line thickness for better visibility.
   • Choose a dashed or solid line style, depending on your preference.

These customization options will ensure that the average line stands out in the chart, making it easier to analyze.

Step 6: Dynamic Updating (Optional)

If your data is updated regularly or changes over time, you’ll want the average line to update automatically based on the new data. Fortunately, Excel’s dynamic formulas allow for this.

1. By using the AVERAGE function in your data calculation, Excel will automatically recalculate the average whenever your data changes.
2. As a result, the average line will update in real-time, reflecting the changes in your data without any additional effort.

This dynamic behavior is especially useful when you’re working with large datasets or data that changes frequently.

Best Chart Types for Adding an Average Line

While you can add an average line to virtually any chart type in Excel, some charts work better with this feature than others. Here are a few chart types where adding an average line can be most effective:

Line Chart

A line chart is one of the best chart types for displaying an average line. The average line will clearly stand out as a distinct horizontal line, making it easy to compare data points across the timeline.

Column Chart

For visualizing individual data points, a column chart with an average line can help compare the data’s performance relative to the average. This works well when you’re working with categories or comparing data over several periods.

Bar Chart

Bar charts are another effective option for visualizing comparisons between categories. Adding an average line helps to show the overall trend across the data points.

Tips for Working with Average Lines in Excel

• Use color wisely: Choose a color for the average line that contrasts with your data but doesn’t overwhelm the chart.
• Adjust axis ranges: If your average line doesn’t fit well within the current axis range, consider adjusting the y-axis scale to provide a better view.
• Multiple average lines: If necessary, you can add multiple average lines to compare different datasets or averages across various periods.

Final Thoughts

Adding an average line to your Excel chart is a straightforward process that can enhance the clarity and insight of your data. By following the steps above, you can easily calculate, add, and customize an average line in various chart types, such as column charts, line charts, and bar charts.

With the ability to dynamically update the average and adjust its appearance, this feature becomes a valuable tool for analyzing and presenting your data effectively.

FAQs

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.