GeneratorsArea chart

Animated Area Chart Generator

Show momentum with a filled trend line. Export as PNG, SVG, GIF or MP4.

Exports asMP4GIFPNGSVG

Free to try · No design skills · Ready in about two minutes

Overview

What is a area chart?

An area chart is a line chart with the region under the line shaded. That fill does one job exceptionally well: it makes the magnitude of a trend feel substantial. Where a thin line says 'this went up', a filled area says 'look how much this grew'. It is why area charts are the default for revenue, MRR and cumulative totals, the numbers that founders most want to feel big.

The shaded volume is the whole point, and also the constraint. An area chart works best for a single rising series where you want momentum to land emotionally. The moment you stack several opaque areas on top of each other, the ones behind get hidden and the chart becomes hard to read, that is when a line chart or a stacked bar is the better call.

Reochart draws the line on from left to right and fills the area underneath as it goes, so growth literally builds in front of the viewer, which is exactly what stops the scroll on LinkedIn or X. Steadily rising numbers tell the strongest story here. Export as MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG, with your own brand colours on Pro.

reochart.com/editor
Data
Jan86
Feb104
Mar121
Apr145
+ Add row
MP4GIFPNGSVG
Export

How it works

How an area chart works

1

Each point is plotted by its time period (x) and value (y), the points are joined into a line, and the region between that line and the baseline is filled. The eye reads both the line's slope (rate of change) and the filled volume (overall magnitude), which is what gives growth its weight.

2

Because the fill draws the eye to volume, area charts are happiest with one series. Start the y-axis at zero so the shaded area is proportional to the real numbers, a truncated axis exaggerates the fill and misleads.

Examples

Example area charts

Real charts made in Reochart, each with its own data and theme. Hover to play the animation.

MRR filling in toward the latest month.
Cumulative signups climbing across the year.
Weekly traffic building week on week.

Good fit

When to use a area chart

  • MRR and revenue growth
  • Cumulative signups or totals
  • Momentum over time
  • Any single rising trend you want to feel bigger
  • A hero metric in an investor update

Reach for something else

When not to use a area chart

  • You are comparing several series precisely, stacked opaque areas hide each other; use a line chart.
  • Your x-axis is separate categories, not time, use a bar chart.
  • The trend is flat or noisy, the fill adds weight to a story that is not there.
  • You need exact part-to-whole values, a stacked bar or donut is clearer.

Compare

Area chart vs other charts

Area chart vs the alternatives.

Chart typeBest forAvoid when
AreaA single trend you want to feel biggerComparing several precise series
LineComparing 2-5 series over timeYou want growth to feel substantial
Stacked barPart-to-whole across periodsA smooth continuous trend
Bar / columnDistinct categoriesA continuous time trend

Your data

What data you need

One row per time period: a label and a value. Paste from a sheet or import a CSV. 6 to 12 points reads best, and rising numbers tell the strongest story.

PeriodValue
Jan12
Feb18
Mar24
Apr33

Step by step

How to make a area chart

1
Paste or import

Drop your numbers in, or import a CSV.

2
Pick a style

Choose the chart, theme and animation speed.

3
Make it yours

Tune colours, labels and add your brand.

4
Export anywhere

Download MP4, GIF, PNG or SVG.

Best practices

Get it right

Do
  • Start the y-axis at zero so the fill is proportional.
  • Use it for a single, clearly rising series.
  • Label the latest value, it is usually the headline.
  • Keep equal time intervals so the slope is honest.
Don't
  • Stack several opaque areas that hide one another.
  • Truncate the axis to exaggerate the fill.
  • Use it for unrelated categories instead of time.
  • Add an area fill to a flat trend to fake momentum.

Watch out

Common mistakes to avoid

!
Truncated baseline

An area chart that does not start at zero exaggerates the shaded volume and overstates growth. Keep the baseline at zero.

!
Stacked opaque areas

Layering several filled areas hides the ones behind. For multi-series, use a line chart or a stacked bar instead.

!
Categories on the x-axis

The fill implies continuity. Use area only for ordered time, not for separate categories.

!
Faking momentum

A bold fill on a flat or noisy series dresses up a non-story. Let the data earn the emphasis.

Why Reochart

Built for sharing, not just charting

  • No design skills required
  • Animated MP4 and GIF exports
  • PNG and scalable SVG too
  • Your brand colours and logo (Pro)
  • Paste from a sheet or import a CSV
  • Presentation and feed ready in minutes

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an area chart?

A line chart with the region under the line shaded, emphasising the magnitude and momentum of a trend over time.

When should I use area instead of line?

Use area when you want a single growing metric (revenue, MRR, cumulative totals) to feel substantial. Use a line when you are comparing several series precisely.

Should the axis start at zero?

Yes. Because an area chart fills the region under the line, a truncated axis exaggerates the shaded volume and overstates the trend.

Can I stack multiple areas?

It is possible but usually a mistake, opaque areas hide each other. For multi-series comparisons, a line chart or stacked bar reads far better.

Can I make it animated?

Yes. Charts animate by default, and you can export the animation as an MP4 or GIF, or grab a static PNG or SVG if you prefer.

Can I export as SVG?

Yes. Pro exports a crisp, scalable SVG vector, alongside MP4, GIF and PNG. Every export renders at 1080p.

Is Reochart free?

Yes. The free plan lets you make every chart type and export an animated MP4 with a small watermark, no card needed. Pro removes the watermark and adds GIF and SVG, your brand colours and logo, longer videos and CSV import.

Make your area chart now

Drop in your numbers and export something worth sharing, in about two minutes. Free to start.