How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel
This wikiHow teaches you how to make a visual representation of your data in Microsoft Excel using a bar graph. Open Microsoft Excel. It resembles a white 'X' on a green background.
Part 1 of 2:
Adding Data
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 1
Open Microsoft Excel. It resembles a white "X" on a green background.- If you want to create a graph from pre-existing data, instead double-click the Excel document that contains the data to open it and proceed to the next section.
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 2
Click Blank workbook (PC) or Excel Workbook (Mac). It's in the top-left side of the template window. -
How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 3
Add labels for the graph's X- and Y-axes. To do so, click the A1 cell (X-axis) and type in a label, then do the same for the B1 cell (Y-axis).- For example, a graph measuring the temperature over a week's worth of days might have "Days" in A1 and "Temperature" in B1.
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 4
Enter data for the graph's X- and Y-axes. To do this, you'll type a number or word into the A or B column to apply it to the X- or Y- axis, respectively.- For example, typing "Monday" into the A2 cell and "70" into the B2 field might show that it was 70 degrees on Monday.
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 5
Finish entering your data. Once your data entry is complete, you're ready to use the data to create a bar graph.
Part 2 of 2:
Creating a Graph
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 6
Select all of your data. To do so, click the A1 cell, hold down ⇧ Shift, and then click the bottom value in the B column. This will select all of your data.- If your graph uses different column letters, numbers, and so on, simply remember to click the top-left cell in your data group and then click the bottom-right while holding ⇧ Shift.
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 7
Click the Insert tab. It's at the top of the Excel window, just right of the Home tab. -
How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 8
Click the "Bar chart" icon. This icon is in the "Charts" group below and to the right of the Insert tab; it resembles a series of three vertical bars. -
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Click a bar graph option. The templates available to you will vary depending on your operating system and whether or not you've purchased Excel, but some popular options include the following:- 2-D Column - Represents your data with simple, vertical bars.
- 3-D Column - Presents three-dimensional, vertical bars.
- 2-D Bar - Presents a simple graph with horizontal bars instead of vertical ones.
- 3-D Bar - Presents three-dimensional, horizontal bars.
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How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 10
Customize your graph's appearance. Once you decide on a graph format, you can use the "Design" section near the top of the Excel window to select a different template, change the colors used, or change the graph type entirely.- The "Design" window only appears when your graph is selected. To select your graph, click it.
- You can also click the graph's title to select it and then type in a new title. The title is typically at the top of the graph's window.
Sample Bar Graphs
![How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 11](https://tipsmake.com/data/images/how-to-make-a-bar-graph-in-excel-picture-11-rHdWBch98.png)
![How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 12](https://tipsmake.com/data/images/how-to-make-a-bar-graph-in-excel-picture-12-OMp7qHOCL.png)
![How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 13](https://tipsmake.com/data/images/how-to-make-a-bar-graph-in-excel-picture-13-2ETltuGkH.png)
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