Stacked Chart in Excel | Steps to Create Stacked Chart (Examples)

Stacked Chart in Excel (Column, Bar & 100% Stacked)

Stacked chart in excel are of three types, stacked column chart, stacked bar chart and 100% stacked column chart and 100% stacked bar chart, in stacked charts data series are stacked over one another for a particular axes, in stacked column chart the series are stacked vertically while in bar the series are stacked horizontally.

Basically there are four stacked chart options:

Stacked Bar
Stacked Column
100% Stacked Bar
100% Column.

There is an option for 2-D and 3-D, which should be selected as per the needs and requirements of the presentation style.

Let us see each of them in detail with example –

How to Create a Stack Chart in Excel? (with Examples)

You can download this Stacked Chart Excel Template here – Stacked Chart Excel Template

Example #1 – Stacked Column Chart

Step 1 – Select all the data for which we have to create the Stacked Chart, like below:

Step 2 – Click on Insert and then click on Insert Column or Bar Chart like below:

Step 3 – After clicking above one, one box will appear to select:

Step 4 – Make sure we select Stacked Column only from 2-D or below box:

Step 5 – After selecting we have like below Stacked Area Chart in the result:

Likewise, if we have to create in 3- D Format then we have to select the below one from 3-D Column:

After Clicking the circled one, below would be the result, which is nothing but a 3-D column Format:

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Example #2 – Stacked Bar Chart

Above are the examples of 2-D & 3-D Column, now we will see the same in the Stacked Bar Chart format.

Below are the steps which are different from the above one:

So, instead of selecting the option from the 2-D & 3-D Column, we have to select the 2-D & 3-D Stacked Bar Chart like below:

Below would be the result for the data:

Here we can see the difference, the no. is horizontal here and the Q1, Q2… are vertically shown. It is the vice-versa of 2-D Column. If we select a 3-D Stacked Bar chart, then it would be the same but in 3-D format. So, we can analyze from above and conclude the various result, if we have to look out the maximum no. of Pune in which quarter. First, see the color of Pune which is blue, given in the chart. Now, we have to see in which quarter blue bar is the largest, so it is the Q4 and no. is 26 if we look at data. Hence, it helps in making a decision quickly.

Example 3 – 100% Stacked Chart

There is another type of Stacked Chart which 100% Stacked Chart, in which the bar would be 100% means in above examples the length of Bar or column is only total of the data but here the Bar or Column would be 100% and the colored part is as per data, like below:

So, we have to select the below one for the result:

Same, like above we can create for 3-D Column,2-D Bar & for 3-D Bar as well by selecting 3^rd one from above.

3-D Column (100% Stacked Column):

2-D bar(100% Stacked Chart):

3-D Bar (100% Stacked Chart) :

When to use a Stacked Chart?

A Part-to-whole: With the help of the Stacked bar char, we can clarify the difference from part to whole and we can see what the chart is pointing out.
Comparisons: the Stacked chart is used for making comparisons between the given data like values, productions or many others.
Survey Results: To showcase the results of the survey, the stacked chart is used to know the differences and highlighting.
Rankings: The stacked chart is also used to show the rankings over a period of time. The column and graph show the data by its length and differentiates it by a different color.

When Not to use Stacked Chart?

In the following situations, we have to avoid using the stacked chart:

Deeper Analysis: It should be avoided when one has to make a deep analysis from the chart because it is preferable for quick decision making.
Lots of Data: One has to avoid using the stacked chart when there are lots of data because it is very much difficult to analyze after seeing lots of variants.

Things to Remember

One can change the color of the Bar or column by right-clicking and choose the correct option as per needs and requirements.
The title of the chart can also be added to better understand or differentiate the data.
The variants should be properly selected while creating a stacked chart so that the result and analysis should be done.