---
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id: 6ff1a4c0582c36a6bd7f9a26c97ae245a638a29d5b42290872d3640d65c36840
title: "Quick Start: Area Charts"
collection: tableau
version: current
locale: en-gb
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/current/en-gb/pro/desktop/qs_area_charts.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/qs_area_charts.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 3e7c4308eb1fdfb42635ffdc2e286c6cb9cd4a3a3e3b5fb766bf31b761036696
description: "Quick start: create an area chart to show accumulated totals over time."
---
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# Create an Area Chart

An area chart is a line chart where the area between the line and the axis are shaded with a colour. These charts are typically used to represent accumulated totals over time and are the conventional way to display stacked lines.

The basic building blocks for an area chart are as follows:

- **Mark type**: Area
- **Columns shelf**: Dimension
- **Rows shelf**: Measure
- **Colour**: Dimension

You can create an area chart with discrete or continuous dimensions.

- _Continuous_ dimensions visualise data with a linear, continuous axis. These charts are useful for displaying trends and proportional changes, especially when data points aren't evenly spaced.
- _Discrete_ dimensions visualise data with discrete, categorical headers. These charts are helpful for showing incremental data, such as fiscal periods.

To learn more about discrete and continuous data types, see [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green.](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/datafields_typesandroles.htm)

To create an area chart, follow these steps:

1. Connect to the **Sample - Superstore** data source (if necessary, you can download it from the [Tableau Public sample data page](https://public.tableau.com/app/learn/sample-data)).
2. Navigate to a new worksheet.
3. From the **Data** pane, drag Order Date to the Columns shelf.
4. On the Columns shelf, right-click YEAR(Order Date) and select Month.
    
    ![Filter menu with the Month option selected and highlighted.](/tableau/current/en-gb/pro/desktop/en-gb/Img/area_charts1.2.png)
5. From the **Data** pane, drag Quantity to the Rows shelf.
6. From the **Data** pane, drag Ship Mode to Colour on the Marks card.
7. On the Marks card, click the Mark Type drop-down and select Area.
    
    ![Area chart types shown in the Marks menu, with the Area type selected.](/tableau/current/en-gb/pro/desktop/en-gb/Img/area_charts2.png)

The visualisation updates to the following:

![A stacked area chart displays the number of orders over time, segmented by the method of shipping.](/tableau/current/en-gb/pro/desktop/en-gb/Img/area_charts1.png)

You can add formatting to an area chart. For example, you can edit the colour legend and turn on mark labels and borders. For more information, see [Format at the Worksheet Level](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/formatting_worksheet.htm).

You can also use highlight actions with area charts. For example, selecting a colour in the legend or turning on the highlighter will highlight the entire area instead of just the line. For more information, see [Highlight Actions](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-gb/actions_highlight.htm).