How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel

In order to illustrate the logical connections between varying factors in your work or project and visually represent your data to your colleague or clients effectively, you need to create a bar graph or bar chart. These graphs display comparisons among categories and indicate bars clustered in groups. The following details below serve as your step-by-step guide on making a bar graph using Microsoft Excel. Remember, it could be applicable on various Excel versions like Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, and even on Mac. Read the main points in this article as we explain on how to draw bar graph or make a bar chart in Excel.

How to Create a Bar Graph Using Microsoft Excel

Nothing could be more manageable and easier than creating a bar graph using Microsoft Excel as the tool. It is easy to navigate and provides various features that you may need in making a bar graph. However, if you don’t know what to do, this article is for you. Browse the steps provided below to learn.

1. Open the Microsoft Excel program.

2. Search a new template or open an old spreadsheet from which you want to make a bar graph.

3. To construct a bar graph, choose the cells you wish to graph and highlight them. Ensure that the Labels and Values, as well as the Header, are all included.

4. After that, go to the Insert menu. Select the dropdown next to the Bar Charts icon in the Charts section of the menu.

5. Click More Column Charts at the bottom of the list. Select Bar from the left pane of the pop-up window. There are 6 bar charts to pick from here.

6. The chart will display in the spreadsheet once you click OK. At first, all of the bars will be the same color. Right-click one of the bars and select Format Data Series to change the appearance of the bar graph and change the bar colors by data series. Select the Fill & Line icon (paint can) in the Format Data Series pane, then under Fill, select Vary colors by point.

7. Simply select the Graph title and retype a new one to change the title.

8. By right-clicking and selecting the Format option, you can change the formatting of any part of the graph, such as the plot area or the graph area.

How to Create a Bar Graph in Mac Using Microsoft Excel

Like its Windows counterpart, Mac can also help you create a bar graph using Microsoft Excel. But if you have no idea how to do it, then this article could help you. Scroll down to know the guidelines on making a bar graph in Mac devices using Microsoft Excel.

1. Open the Microsoft Excel program and select the spreadsheet in which you want to make a bar graph.

2. Select the data you want to include in your bar graph.

3. Click the Insert tab, then select Recommendation Chart and pick the chart that you want.

4. After selecting the chart, go to the Chart Design tab and click Add Chart Element to change the title, labels, and legend.

5. To modify the layout or style, pick one of the previews in the style gallery and then click Quick Layout to select from predetermined sets of chart elements.

6. To change the data view, click Switch Row/Column or Select Data.

7. To convert to a different chart type, click Change Chart Type.

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