What is a Grouped Bar Chart in Excel?
A grouped bar chart in excel shows the values of multiple categories (or groups) across different time periods. The data of every group is clubbed and presented in the form of a bar chart.
The grouped bar chart is slightly different from the simple bar chartBar ChartBar charts in excel are helpful in the representation of the single data on the horizontal bar, with categories displayed on the Y-axis and values on the X-axis. To create a bar chart, we need at least two independent and dependent variables.read more. The former requires data to be arranged in a particular order, whereas no such arrangement is required for the latter.
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How to Create a Grouped Bar Chart in Excel? (Step by Step)
The monthly revenueRevenueRevenue is the amount of money that a business can earn in its normal course of business by selling its goods and services. In the case of the federal government, it refers to the total amount of income generated from taxes, which remains unfiltered from any deductions.read more generated from the different zones has been tabulated. There are three columns–“month,” “zone,” and “revenue.”
We want a chart for these numbers.
Let us insert a clustered column chartClustered Column ChartIn Excel, a clustered column chart depicts data in a series of vertical columns. Though these charts are simple to create, analyzing them becomes increasingly difficult as the number of categories increases from single to multiple. read more. The steps are mentioned as follows:
- Select the data and insert the clustered column chart (under the Insert tab).
- Click “Ok,” and the clustered bar chartClustered Bar ChartA clustered bar chart represents data virtually in horizontal bars in series, similar to clustered column charts. These charts are easier to make. Still, they are visually complex.read more appears, as shown in the following image. The chart shows the revenues of different zones for a particular month.
- Since the zonal data for every month is available, we create a zone-wise arrangement.
- The data of every zone are grouped together at one place. Insert a blank row after every zonal group.
- Retain only one zone name and delete the remaining ones.
- Interchange the “month” and “zone” columns. Insert the clustered column chart for the data in the succeeding image.
- The chart appears as shown in the following image. On the x-axis of the chart, the different months and zones are displayed.
- To format the chart, select it and press “Ctrl+1.” The “format data series” box opens to the right of the chart.
- In the “format data series” box, make the “gap width” 0%. With this, the bars of one category are combined together at one place.
- With the same chart selection, go to the “fill” option in the “format data series” box. Select the check box “vary colors by point.” Every bar of the chart is displayed in a different color.
Conversion From Clustered Column Chart to Clustered Bar Chart
Let us convert the clustered column chart (created in the previous example) to the clustered bar chart. The steps to change the chart type are mentioned as follows:
- Step 1: Select the chart. With the selection, the Design and Format tabs appear on the Excel ribbon. In the Design tab, choose “change chart type.”
- Step 2: The “change chart type” window opens, as shown in the following image.
- Step 3: In the “all charts” tab, click on “bar.”
- Step 4: In the “bar” option, there are multiple chart types. Select the “clustered bar.” The preview of the clustered bar chart is shown in the succeeding image.
- Step 5: Click “Ok,” and the clustered column chart is converted into the clustered bar chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
A grouped bar chart or a clustered bar chart groups two or more data sets under categories. The bars within each group are displayed in different colors. This facilitates the comparison of multiple variables or series.
A grouped bar chart can be either vertical or horizontal. The numeric values are plotted for two variables instead of one. The legend displays the names of the different data series.
It is used in the following situations:
• To show a distribution of data points
• To facilitate comparisons within the group and between the groups
• To analyze changes of one variable with respect to the other
• To study the bars across different time periods
The steps to create a bar chart with multiple groups are listed as follows:
1. The first task is to figure out the primary and the secondary variables. The primary variable helps decide the axis for the cluster (or group). The secondary variable helps determine the number of bars to be plotted within the cluster. The more important of the two variables is chosen as the primary variable.
2. The next task is to gather information related to the different categorical variables. Usually, the primary variable is time-bound (monthly or yearly data). The secondary variable is a numeric value like the ranking, score, age group, and so on.
3. The last step is to plot the chart keeping in mind the visualization objectives. The order of variables can be experimented with to decide the best possible way of conveying data.
Key Takeaways
- A grouped bar chart shows the values of multiple categories (or groups) across different time periods.
- The grouped bar chart requires data to be arranged in a particular order whereas no such arrangement is required for the simple bar chart.
- The “gap width” of 0% (entered in the “format data series” box) combines the bars of one category together at one place.
- The “vary colors by point” displays every bar of the chart in a different color.
- The chart type can be changed with the help of the “change chart type” option in the Design tab.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to the grouped bar chart. Here we discuss how to create a grouped bar chart in Excel along with a practical example and a downloadable template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles –
- Animation Chart in Excel
- Chart Wizard in Excel
- Make the Gantt Chart in Excel
- Data Bars in Excel
- Mixed References in Excel
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