How to add trendline in Excel chart

This tutorial shows you how to perform trend analysis in Excel, covering adding trendlines to charts, displaying their equations, and determining their slopes.

When visualizing data, trendlines (also known as lines of best fit) highlight the overall trend. Excel simplifies trendline insertion, particularly in newer versions. However, several techniques can significantly enhance your analysis.

- Excel chart trendlines

• Adding trendlines in Excel
• Inserting multiple trendlines
• Formatting trendlines
• Extending trendlines for forecasting
• Excel trendline equations
• Calculating trendline slopes
• Removing trendlines

Understanding Excel Trendlines

A trendline is a straight or curved line illustrating the general pattern or direction of data points within a chart. It's primarily used to show data changes over time or correlations between variables. Unlike line charts connecting individual data points, a trendline represents the overall trend, disregarding minor variations and outliers. It can also be used for trend forecasting.

Chart Compatibility

Trendlines are compatible with various Excel chart types, including XY scatter, bubble, stock, and unstacked 2-D bar, column, area, and line graphs. They are not supported by 3-D, stacked, pie, radar, or similar chart types.

Below is a scatter plot with an extended trendline:

Adding Trendlines in Excel

In Excel 2013, 2016, and 2019:

1. Select the chart.
2. Click the "Chart Elements" button (the plus icon).
3. Check the "Trendline" box for a default linear trendline, or click the arrow to choose a different type. Clicking "More Options" opens the "Format Trendline" pane for advanced customization, including equation display.

Alternatively, right-click the data series and select "Add Trendline...".

Excel 2010 Trendlines

In Excel 2010:

1. Select the data series.
2. Go to "Chart Tools" > "Layout" > "Analysis" > "Trendline". Choose a predefined option or select "More Trendline Options..." for customization.

Multiple Trendlines

Excel supports multiple trendlines per chart.

Trendlines per Data Series

To add a trendline to each data series:

1. Right-click a data series and select "Add Trendline...".
2. Choose the trendline type.
3. Repeat for other series.

Alternatively, use the "Chart Elements" button to select the series and trendline type.

Multiple Trendline Types per Series

To add different trendline types to the same series, add the first trendline, then repeat the process, selecting a different type.

Formatting Trendlines

Customize trendline appearance by right-clicking and selecting "Format Trendline..." or double-clicking the trendline. Adjust color, width, and style in the "Fill & Line" tab.

Extending Trendlines

Project trends by double-clicking the trendline, going to the "Trendline Options" tab, and adjusting the "Forward" and "Backward" forecast periods.

Trendline Equations and R-squared Values

The trendline equation mathematically describes the line's best fit. The R-squared value indicates the goodness of fit (closer to 1 is better). Display both by checking the relevant boxes in the "Trendline Options" tab.

Note: Equations are accurate only for XY scatter plots. Adjust decimal places in the "Label Options" tab for higher precision.

Calculating Trendline Slopes

For linear trendlines, use the SLOPE(known_y's, known_x's) function or the LINEST function (as an array formula) to calculate the slope.

Removing Trendlines

Right-click the trendline and select "Delete," or uncheck the "Trendline" box in "Chart Elements".

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to using trendlines in Excel for effective data analysis.

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