Often you may want to plot two lines in the same graph in Excel to compare two different groups over time.
For example, you may want to compare the sales of two different products over the same time period:
The following step-by-step example shows exactly how to create this type of graph in Excel.
Step 1: Enter the Data
First, let’s create the following dataset that contains information about the total sales of two different products during ten consecutive years:
Step 2: Insert the Line Chart
Suppose we would like to create a double line chart to visualize the sales of each product over the 10-year period.
To do so, highlight the cells in the range B1:C11, then click the Insert tab along the top ribbon, then click the first Line chart icon within the Charts group:
The following line chart will appear:
The blue line shows the sales each year for Product A and the orange line shows the sales each year for Product B.
Step 3: Customize the Axis Tick Marks
Currently the tick marks on the x-axis range from 1 to 10.
However, suppose we would like them to display the years from 2010 to 2019 instead.
To change the tick marks, right click on any of the values on the x-axis, then click Select Data from the dropdown menu:
In the new window that appears, click the Edit button under Horizontal Axis Labels:
In the new window that appears, choose A2:A11 as the Axis Label Range, then click OK:
The x-axis on the chart will be updated to display the years ranging from 2010 to 2019:
Step 4: Customize the Chart Appearance
Lastly, feel free to change the title and axis labels and click on the individual lines to change their colors.
Here is what the final chart could look like:
Additional Resources
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common tasks in Excel:
How to Add Labels to Scatterplot Points in Excel
How to Create a Line of Best Fit in Excel
How to Add Target Line to Graph in Excel
