What Is Trendline in Excel? (Ultimate Guide)

This tutorial will cover many essential topics on Trendline in Excel. We’ll walk you through adding a trendline in a chart, formatting, and extending it. You will also learn to remove them and fix common problems.

Generating Trendlines is valuable for sales, financial, stock market analysis and scientific research. Trendlines can help us gain valuable insights, make predictions, and support decision-making in various fields.

After going through this post, you can enrich your analyzing skills. Let’s get started.

Overview of trendlines in Excel chart


Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook by clicking the link below.


How to Add Trendline in Excel with Easy Steps?

1. Insert a Chart to Add Trendlines

Select B4:C9 range >> go to Insert >> click on Insert Scatter >> select Scatter.

Insert Scatter Chart


2. Expand Trendline Option from Chart Elements

Click on the chart area >> click on the PLUS icon >> expand the Trendline option.

Open up the Chart Elements Option


3. Insert a Trendline in an Excel Chart

Choose the intended trendline type. Here, we have applied Linear Forecast. In this way, we can add a trendline.


How to Insert Multiple Trendlines in a Chart?

1. Inserting Multiple Trendlines in a Chart

Choose B4:C9 range >> navigate to the Insert tab >> input a Scatter chart.

Insert Scatter Chart for multiple trendlines

Click the PLUS icon >> Expand the Trendline option >> Choose Linear.

Linear Type Trendline

Right-click on any data series >> click on Add Trendline.

Right-click on a data series

As a result, the Format Trendline pane will open. Choose Polynomial >> Type 2 as order.

Multiple Trendlines in a Chart


2. Adding a Trendline for Each Data Series

 


How to Format Trendline in Excel?

Right-click on the intended trendline >> Choose Format Trendline from the context menu.

Right-click on trendline

Eventually, the Format Trendline pane will open. Choose Fill & Line >> Apply the desired formatting.

Output of formatting trendline


How to Extend Trendline in Excel?

Right-click on the intended trendline >> Choose Format Trendline from the context menu.

Right-click on trendline to extend

Later, the Format Trendline pane will open. click on Trendline Options >> type intended Forward periods. In this way, we can extend the trendline.

Extend trendline


How to Display Trendline Equations on a Chart?

Open Format Trendline pane >> Choose Trendline Options >> Check Display Equation on Chart >> Check Display R-squared value on chart. In this way, we can display the trendline equation.

Display trendline equation


How to Remove Trendline from a Chart?

Right-click on the desired trendline >> Choose Delete from the context menu.

Remove trendline


What Are Reasons for Trendlines Not Showing?

  • If you have very few data points, Excel may not be able to generate a meaningful trendline.
  • Not all chart types support trendlines, so use a compatible chart type, such as a scatter plot or line chart.

Things to Remember

  • If you want to click on the PLUS symbol of a chart, you must click on the chart area first.
  • When inserting multiple trendlines, you must right-click on a data series.

Conclusion

We have covered some essential topics on Trendline in Excel. You have learned many practical aspects of applying trendlines. Visit our ExcelDemy site to learn more about Excel. You can also discuss your Excel issue in our ExcelDemy Forum.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a trendline represent?

A trendline is a chart line showing the overall direction of a group of data points. It helps us in analyzing the general pattern in the data.

2. What is the trend line in Excel?

You can add a trendline to certain chart types like scatter, line and column charts in Excel. Excel provides different types of trendlines like linear, exponential, logarithmic, etc. You can use a trendline to make predictions or see how well the data fits the line.

3. How do you analyze a trend line?

First, look at the line and see if it goes up or down. If it goes up, it means the data is generally increasing. And if it goes down, it means the data is usually decreasing. A flat line represents a stronger relationship between the variables.


Trendline in Excel: Knowledge Hub


<< Go Back To Excel Charts | Learn Excel

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

Tags:

Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
Lutfor Rahman Shimanto

Lutfor Rahman Shimanto, BSc, Information Technology, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, has worked with the ExcelDemy project for over a year. He has written 50+ articles and provided solutions of 100+ comments for ExcelDemy. Currently, he works as an Excel & VBA Developer and provides support and solutions in the ExcelDemy Forum. He has solved 100+ ExcelDemy Forum problems. His work and learning interests are in developing various Excel & VBA and Desktop applications. Outside of work, he enjoys Chess... Read Full Bio

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions PDF

 

 

ExcelDemy
Logo