An area chart has been seen before, perhaps monitoring stock market data, web traffic, or monthly income. But when should you use one and, more importantly, when should you not?
The chart type you select can end up drowning your message in data visual chaos. One of the most misused chart types is the area chart because it resembles a line chart, but it’s used very differently.
In this guide, you will learn what an area chart is, how it works, the different types of area charts, the limitations, and best practices for using them.
TL; DR
Table of Contents
The area chart is a type of line chart in which a color or gradient fill is applied between the plotted line and the x-axis. Data points are represented on the coordinates as points, connected by lines, and the area beneath is visually presented. This distinction matters. A line chart highlights the direction of change; an area chart represents the volume, or amount of something, over time.
Area charts are more than just visually appealing; they serve specific analytical purposes that other chart types can’t fulfill as effectively. Here’s when they’re the right choice:
Area charts are primarily used when the summation of quantitative data (dependent variable) is to be communicated (rather than individual data values). The area underneath the line(s) helps in graphically depicting quantitative progression over time.
In stacked mode, area charts show how individual categories contribute to a total. For example, stacking sales by product line reveals both the overall revenue trend and each product’s share of it, and if the y-axis is expressed as a percentage, proportional shifts over time become even clearer.
Read more about how this compares to other cumulative visualizations in our guide to stacked bar charts
Unlike line charts, area charts let readers visually compare the scale of two metrics side by side. A consistent, stable metric will show a smooth, even fill, while a volatile one will show sharp peaks and dips, making performance differences immediately obvious.
Area charts give a clear and concise picture of each group’s performance trends separately.
One glance at the stacked area chart on the right above gives you a clear understanding that while the food products’ sales have been consistent, the non-food products’ sales have shown a lot of fluctuations.
| Feature | Area Chart | Line Chart | Bar Chart |
| Shows trend | yes | yes | no |
| Shows volume/magnitude | yes | no | yes |
| Part-to-whole (stacked) | yes | no | yes |
| Exact value comparison | no | no | yes |
| Works with many categories | no | yes | yes |
| Best for time-series data | yes | yes | no |
With FusionCharts, you can pick from all the major variants of area charts that come without any hassle: basic single-series charts, scrollable, etc. Here’s a breakdown of each:
The multi-series area chart is plotted with data values plotted as data points that are connected using line segments. The area between the line segments and the x-axis/edges of other charts is filled with color.
A scroll area chart is used to show the magnitude of change over a period of time. A large number of data points can be rendered on the chart owing to the scroll interactivity. The chart is rendered with data values plotted as data points that are then connected using line segments. The area between the line segments and the y-axis is filled with color. A horizontal scroll bar is rendered at the bottom of the chart to navigate through the chart.
Simple spline-area
A spline area chart is a specialized form of the area chart that can be used for plotting data that requires the usage of curve-fitting. Like the area chart, data values are plotted as data points. However, instead of using straight line segments to connect the data points, this chart draws a fitted curve to connect the data points. The area between the curve and the x-axis is filled with color.
A multi-series spline area chart is a specialized form of the multi-series area chart that can be used for plotting data for multiple categories of data that require the usage of curve-fitting. Like the multi-series area chart, data values are plotted as data points. However, instead of using straight line segments to connect the data points, this chart draws a fitted curve to connect the data points. The area between the curve and the x-axis is filled with color.
The most common form. One data series, area below the line filled. Ideal for measuring a single data point over a period of time, such as monthly revenue, daily active users, etc. You can see it in the simple area chart demo, and follow the line, area, and column chart guide to build one.
Each series is stacked on top of the previous one. At each point, the total height of the chart is the sum of all series values. Useful for visualizing individual contribution to a whole, such as sales by product category, which totals company sales. Explore the stacked area chart demo and the stacked area chart attributes for the full setup.
Similar to the stacked variant, but the y-axis is normalized to 100%. This 100% Stacked Area Chart removes the cumulative total and focuses entirely on proportional share, ideal when you want to track how each group’s percentage contribution shifts over time.
A standard area chart is commonly used to visualize how revenue changes over time. For example, a SaaS company can track monthly recurring revenue (MRR) across a year. The filled area makes it easier to see not only the upward or downward trend but also the overall revenue volume generated during the period.
Marketing teams often use area charts to monitor daily or monthly website visitors. The chart clearly shows traffic spikes after campaigns, product launches, or promotional activities.
This allows teams to quickly identify periods of strong engagement and evaluate campaign effectiveness.
A stacked area chart is useful when you need to show both total sales and category contributions.
For example, an electronics retailer may track sales from:
The chart displays overall sales growth while simultaneously showing how each product category contributes to total revenue over time.
Utility companies frequently use area charts to analyze electricity usage throughout a day, week, or month. The filled area effectively communicates periods of high and low consumption.
This helps organizations identify peak-demand periods and optimize resource allocation.
When the focus is on percentage contribution rather than absolute values, a 100% stacked area chart is ideal.
For example, a streaming industry report may compare market share among several platforms over five years. The chart shows how each company’s share changes while maintaining a constant total of 100%.
Best for:
Organizations often use area charts to visualize how budgets are distributed among departments over multiple quarters.
Departments may include:
A stacked area chart helps decision-makers understand spending patterns while maintaining visibility into total organizational expenditure.
Like any visualization tool, area charts come with their own strengths and limitations. Understanding both helps you make smarter charting decisions:
| Merits | Demerits |
| Visualizes volume and magnitude intuitively | Hard to read exact values |
| Great for time-series trend analysis | Overlapping fills create visual clutter |
| Ideal for part-to-whole analysis (stacked) | Not suited for many data categories |
| Easy visual comparison across categories | Ambiguous when data values are far apart |
Picking the right data is only half the job; here’s how to present it effectively:
For a deeper look at how these principles apply across chart types, see our full chart gallery covering line, bar, and column alternatives.
Area charts are a specialized graph, very useful in the appropriate context, but unhelpful in other contexts. The filled area isn’t merely a design decision – it has analytical meaning too. If that meaning is not adding to your communication, you should use a simpler chart type. Use an area chart for volume, cumulative trends, or part-to-whole relationships. Limit the number of series, adhere to best practices, and trust the data to tell the story.
Get full access to 100+ chart types, including every area chart variant covered in this guide, and start building interactive, production-ready visualizations in minutes.
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The area chart is a variation of the line chart between the line plotted and the x-axis, which is filled with a gradient or color. It is mainly used to show volume, trends, and cumulative data over time.
A line chart highlights the trend or direction of data, while an area chart highlights the volume of data. The filled area underneath the line gives depth and scale to it, which a line alone can not.
An area chart is also known as an area graph or mountain chart. In certain cases, the stacked variant is referred to as a stacked area chart.
Constructing an area chart with FusionCharts is very simple. You specify your data, choose the area chart type, and then FusionCharts takes care of the rendering. See our step-by-step chart guide to get started.
Yes, definitely for time series kpi’s where trend/volume context is relevant. Don’t use them for metrics that require a precise value; if necessary, combine with a data table.
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