Bar Chart in Excel

Excel Bar Chart

Bar charts in excel are useful in the representation of the single data on the horizontal bar. They represent the values in horizontal bars. In these charts, categories are displayed on the Y-axis and values are displayed on the X-axis. To create or make a bar chart, a user needs at least two variables called independent and dependent variables.

Independent Variable: This doesn’t change with respect to any other variable.

Dependent Variable: This change with respect to the independent variable.

Mainly there are three types of bar charts in excel.

• #1 – Stacked Bar Chart: It is also referred to as the segmented chart. It represents all the dependent variables by stacking together and top of other variables.
• #2 – Clustered Bar Chart: This chart groups all the dependent variables together to display in a graph format. A clustered chart with two dependent variables is referred to as the double graph.
• #3 – 3D Bar Chart: This chart represents all the dependent variables in 3D representation.

Examples to Create Various Types of Bar Chart in Excel

Example #1 – Stacked Bar Chart

This example is to illustrates how to create a stacked bar graph in simple steps.

• Step 1: Enter the data into the excel sheets in the table format as shown in the figure.

• Step 2: Select the entire table by clicking and dragging or placing the cursor anywhere in the table and pressing CTRL+A to select the entire table.

• Step 3: Go to the “Insert” tab and move the cursor to the insert bar chart option.

• Step 4: Under 2D bar chart, select the stacked bar chart as shown in the below mentioned figure.

• Step 5: The stacked bar chart will be displayed as shown below.

• Step 6: Add “Data Labels” to the data series in the plotted area.

To do this, click on the chart area to select the data series.

• Step 7: Right-click on the data series and choose the add data labels to add the data label option as shown in the screenshot.

The data is added to the plotted chart as shown in the figure.

• Step 8: We can move the bar chart to the desired place in the worksheet, click on the edge, and drag it with the mouse.

• Step 9: We can change the design of the bar chart utilizing the various options available including change color, change chart type, and moving chart from one sheet to another sheet.

We get the following stacked bar chart.

We can use the “Format Chart Area” to change color, transparency, dash type, cap type, and join type.

Example #2 – Clustered Bar Chart

This example is to illustrate how to create a clustered bar chart in simple steps.

• Step 1: Enter the data into the excel sheets in the excel table format as shown in the figure.

• Step 2: Select the entire table by clicking and dragging or placing the cursor anywhere in the table and pressing CTRL+A to select the entire table.

• Step 3: Go to the “Insert” tab and move the cursor to the insert bar chart option and under 2D bar chart, select the clustered bar chart as shown in the below-mentioned figure.

• Step 4: Add a suitable title to the chart as shown in the figure.

• Step 5: Right-click on the data series and choose the add data labels to add the data label option as shown in the screenshot.

The data is added to the plotted chart as shown in the figure.

• Step 6: Apply formatting to change the design of the charts using the “Design” and “Format” tabs of the chart as shown in the figure.

We get the following chart.

We can also change the layout of the chart using the “Quick Layout” feature.

We get the following clustered bar chart.

Example #3 – 3D Bar Chart

This example is to illustrate how to create a 3d bar chart in excel in simple steps.

• Step 1: Enter the data into the excel sheets in the table format as shown in the figure.

• Step 2: Select the entire table by clicking and dragging or placing the cursor anywhere in the table and pressing CTRL+A to select the entire table.

• Step 3: Go to the “Insert” tab and move the cursor to the insert bar chart option and under 3D bar chart, select the 100% full stacked bar chart as shown in the below-mentioned figure.

• Step 4: Add a suitable title to the chart as shown in the figure.

• Step 5: Right-click on the data series and choose the add data labels to add the data label option as shown in the screenshot.

The data is added to the plotted chart as shown in the figure.

Apply the required formatting and design to the chart using the format chart area. we get the following 3D Bar chart.

Uses of Bar Chart

The bar chart in excel is used for different purposes including.

• Easier planning and making decisions based on the data analyzed.
• Determination of business decline or growth in a short time from the past data.
• Visual representation of the data and improved abilities in the communication of difficult data.
• Comparing the different categories of data to enhance the proper understanding of it.
• Summarizing the data in the graphical format produced into the tables.

Things to Remember

• A bar chart is only useful for small sets of data.
• The bar chart ignores the data if it contains non-numerical values.
• It is hard to use the bar charts if data is not arranged properly in the excel sheet.
• Bar chart and column charts have a lot of similarities except visual representation of the bars in horizontal and vertical format. these can be interchanged with each other.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to bar chart in excel. Here we discuss how to create different types of bar charts (stacked, clustered, and 3d) along with practical examples and downloadable excel templates. You can have a look at other articles on excel functions –

• Stock Chart in Excel
• Create Control Charts in Excel
• Create Excel Combo Chart
• Make Dot Plots in Excel