How to Customize Graphs using Google Sheets

Adding annotations and creating trendlines in Google Sheets can make your graph easier and clearer to understand. Use this guide to customize your charts.
 

Create Annotations

Annotations are useful for adding notes of observations or trends into your chart. They can label specific data points in your graph.

Follow these steps to add annotations:
 

1. Enter in all your data into Google Sheets.
2. For this example, Column A is my horizontal axis and Column B is my vertical axis. Add your notes or observations into Column C next to the corresponding data point.
3. Highlight your data and select Insert graph. 
4. Using the Chart Editor, choose which type of graph you would like. I chose a line graph for this example. You can now see your notes that you have added into the chart. 
5. Select Insert once you have finished.
6. To customize your graph, choose Advanced edit in the drop-down menu on the top right hand corner of your graph.
7. Using the Chart Editor you can change the font, color and size of your annotations. 
   

 

Create Horizontal Annotations

Horizontal annotations are helpful for showing progression especially. Use the following steps to create horizontal annotations:
 

1. Enter in all your data into Google Sheets.
2. For this example, Column A is my horizontal axis and Column C is my vertical axis. Insert your notes into Column B.
3. Highlight your data and select Insert graph. 
4. Choose which type of graph you would like using the Chart Editor. I chose an area graph for this example. You will now see your horizontal annotations in your graph.
5. Select Insert once you have finished.

 

Create Trendlines

Follow these steps to create a trendline into your graph:
 

1. Enter in all your data into Google Sheets.
2. For this example, Column A is my horizontal axis and Column B is my vertical axis.
3. Highlight your data and select Insert graph. 
4. Choose which kind of graph you would like. For trendlines, a scatterplot graph would be your best choice.
5. Once you have created the graph, select Advanced edit from the drop-down menu on the top right hand corner of the graph. 
6. Under the customize tab, scroll down to Trendline and choose which kind of line you would like. I chose linear. 
7. You can then customize your trendline.

Hopefully this guide helps in customizing your graphs with annotations and trendlines.