Excel plot dates on timeline

Often you may want to display a date and time on the x-axis of a chart in Excel:

The following step-by-step example shows how to do so in practice.

Step 1: Enter the  Data

First, let’s enter the following dataset into Excel:

Step 2: Insert Scatter Plot with Straight Lines

Next, highlight the values in the range A2:B9.

Then click the Insert tab along the top ribbon, then click the icon called Scatter with Straight Lines and Markers within the Charts group.

The following chart will automatically appear:

By default, Excel makes each label on the x-axis horizontal.

However, this causes the labels to overlap in some areas and makes it difficult to read.

Step 3: Rotate Axis Labels

To make the axis labels easier to read, first double click any of the values on the x-axis.

In the Format Axis panel that appears, click the icon called Size & Properties and type -45 in the box titled Custom angle:

The x-axis labels will be rotated at a 45 degree angle to make them easier to read:

Notice that the labels are much easier to read no

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