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

  1. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 1How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 1
    Open Microsoft Excel. It resembles a white "X" on a green background.
    1. 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.
  2. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 2How 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.
  3. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 3How 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).
    1. For example, a graph measuring the temperature over a week's worth of days might have "Days" in A1 and "Temperature" in B1.
  4. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 4How 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.
    1. For example, typing "Monday" into the A2 cell and "70" into the B2 field might show that it was 70 degrees on Monday.
  5. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 5How 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

  1. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 6How 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.
    1. 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.
  2. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 7How 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.
  3. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 8How 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.
  4. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 9How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 9
    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:
    1. 2-D Column - Represents your data with simple, vertical bars.
    2. 3-D Column - Presents three-dimensional, vertical bars.
    3. 2-D Bar - Presents a simple graph with horizontal bars instead of vertical ones.
    4. 3-D Bar - Presents three-dimensional, horizontal bars.
  5. How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 10How 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.
    1. The "Design" window only appears when your graph is selected. To select your graph, click it.
    2. 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 11How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 11 Sample Horizontal Bar Graph
How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 12How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 12 Sample Vertical Bar Graph
How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 13How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel Picture 13 Sample Stacked Bar Graph
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