Skip to main content

Excel: How to add max or min line to a chart

Author: Sun Last Modified: 2025-04-17

Adding max or min lines to an Excel chart can make it easier to identify the highest or lowest values at a glance. This tutorial provides step-by-step guidance on how to add these lines manually using helper columns or automatically with Kutools for Excel, making your charts more insightful and visually clear.
A screenshot of an Excel chart with max and min lines added

Add max and min line to chart by using helper columns

Add max and min line to chart by Kutools for Excel's Chart Tool


Add max and min line to chart by using helper columns

To add a max or min line to a chart, firstly, you need to find the maximum value and the minimum value of the original data.

1. Select a blank cell next to the data, type the following formula, and then press "Enter" to get the maximum.

=MAX($B$2:$B$21)

Tip: Since we need to find the maximum value in the same range, absolute reference ensures the range remains unchanged when you drag the autofill handle down or right.
A screenshot showing the use of the MAX formula in Excel

2. Then select this formula cell, drag the autofill handle down to the end of the data.
A screenshot of dragging the autofill handle to apply the MAX formula across rows

3. Then right-click on the chart to show the context menu, and click "Select Data".
A screenshot of the Select Data option in the chart's context menu

4. In the "Select Data Source" dialog, click "Add" button.
A screenshot of the Add button in the Select Data Source dialog

5. In the "Edit Series" dialog, select the cell to shown the series name, then select the cells that contain MAX function you have done in step 1 and 2. Click "OK" > "OK".
A screenshot of the Edit Series dialog for adding max values to a chart

Now the max values have been added into the chart.
A screenshot of a chart with max values added

6. Right-click at the added maximum values in the chart, and select "Change Series Chart Type" from the context menu.
A screenshot of the Change Series Chart Type option in the chart's context menu

7. In the "Change Chart Type" window, go to "Choose the chart type and axis for your data series" section, and click the drop-down list to change the chart type to "Line" for the "Max" series. Click "OK".
A screenshot of the Change Chart Type dialog for switching to a line chart

Now the max line has been added to the chart.
A screenshot of a chart with a max line added

Use the following formula and repeat the above steps to add the min line to the chart.

=MIN($B$2:$B$21)
A screenshot of a chart with both max and min lines added

Add max and min line to chart by Kutools for Excel's Chart Tool

If you have "Kutools for Excel" installed, there is a feature "Add Line to Chart" in the "Chart Tools", which can quickly add a line to the selected chart.

Kutools for Excel offers over 300 advanced features to streamline complex tasks, boosting creativity and efficiency. Itegarate with AI capabilities, Kutools automates tasks with precision, making data management effortless. Detailed information of Kutools for Excel...         Free trial...

1. Select the chart you want to add max or min line, then click "Kutools" > "Chart" > "Chart Tools" > "Add Line to Chart".
A screenshot of the Add Line to Chart feature in Kutools tab in Excel

2. In the "Add line to chart" dialog, check "Other values" option, and type the maximum or minimum value in the textbox. Click "Ok".
A screenshot of the Add Line to Chart dialog

Now the maximum line or minimum line has been inserted to the chart. 
A screenshot of a chart with a line added using Kutool

Repeat the above steps to add another line.

To learn more about how to use the "Add Line to Chart" feature in Kutools for Excel, please visit our detailed tutorial.

Kutools for Excel - Supercharge Excel with over 300 essential tools. Enjoy permanently free AI features! Get It Now


Other Operations (Articles)

How to alternate row color based on group in Excel?
In Excel, to color every other row may be easier for most of us, but, have you ever tried to color the rows alternately based on a column value changes – Column A as following screenshot shown, in this article, I will talk about how to alternate row color based on group in Excel.

How to apply color gradient across multiple cells?
In Excel, we can easily fill background color to a cell or multiple cells, but, sometimes, we need the color be filled gradient as following screenshot shown, how could get the color gradient in a cell or across multiple cells in Excel?

How to apply color banded rows or columns in Excel?
This article will show you three methods of applying color banded rows or columns in Excel. Please do as follows.

How to apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns in Excel?
While designing a worksheet, many people tend to apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows or columns in order to make the worksheet more visual. This article will show you two methods to apply shading to odd or even rows/columns in Excel.

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!