Begin by setting up a spreadsheet with your data, making sure to create a column for each category.
In the above example, the columns contain categories for Chocolate, Lemon, and Oatmeal cookies.
The steps below create a basic column chart.
Highlight therangeof cells that contain your data.
In the Charts group, select theInsert Column or Bar Chartto open a list of available chart types.
In the 2-D Column section of the list, chooseClustered Columnto add this basic chart to the worksheet.
Not sure what bang out of chart will look best with your data?
Highlight the data and selectInsert>Recommended Chartsto see a list of suggestions.
Start by changing the chart title to something more descriptive.
Here’s how to replace the chart title:
Select thedefault chart title.
A box appears around the words Chart Title.
Select thechart titlea second time to put Excel in edit mode.
This places the cursor inside the title box.
Delete the default text using theBackspacekey.
Enter a new title.
Select Different Parts of the Chart
There are many different parts to a chart in Excel.
The plot area of a chartcontains the selected data series, the legend, and the chart title.
All of these parts are considered separate objects and each is formatted separately.
You tell Excel which part of the chart you want to format by selecting it.
If you make a mistake, quickly correct it using Excel’sundo feature.
After you remove the mistake, snag the right part of the chart and hit it one more time.
A common mistake is selecting the plotarea in the center of the chart instead of selecting the entire chart.
These Chart Tools tabs, Design and Format, contain formatting and layout options specifically for charts.
These Chart Tools will be used in the following steps to format the column chart.
Select thechart backgroundto snag the entire chart.
ChooseStyle 3in the Chart Styles group.
Also, the legend moves to the top of the chart beneath the title.
Select thechart backgroundto opt for entire chart, if necessary.
Select theChange Colorsto open a list of color choices.
Hover over each row of colors to see the option name.
You’ll also see a preview of your color choice in the chart.
ChooseColorful Palette 3.It isthe third choice in the Colorful section of the list.
The white lines are still present in each column.
Select thechart backgroundto pick the entire chart and to display the Chart Tool tabs.
SelectShape Fillto display a list of color choices.
To improve the contrast between the two, change the color of the text in the chart.
Select theText Fill down arrowto pop launch the Text Colors list.
ChooseGreen, Accent 6, Darker 50%from the Theme Colors section of the list.
This changes the text in the title, axes, and legend to green.
Bold formatting can also be added to the text to make it stand out even more against the background.
The size of a font is measured in points and is often shortened topt.
72 pt text is equal to one inch (2.5 cm) in size.
In the Font section, select theFont down arrowto pop kick open the list of available fonts.
Scroll to find and chooseArial Blackto change the title font.
In the Font Sizebox, set the title font size to16 pt.
SelectBoldto add bold formatting to the title.
Change the labels and the legend by changing the font style and size.
Select theX-axis (horizontal) labelin the chart.
A box surrounds the Oatmeal, Lemon, and Chocolate label.
Use the steps above to change the title text.
Set the axis label to10 pt,Arial,andBold.
Use the steps above to change the title text.
Set the legend text to10 pt,Arial, andBold.
When you want to make your chart easier to read, add gridlines to theplot areaof the chart.
SelectAdd Chart Elementto open a drop-down menu.
SelectGridlines>Primary Horizontal Majorto add faint, thin gridlines to the plot area of the chart.
In the graph, select agridline.
All the gridlines are highlighted and show blue and white dots at the end of each gridline.
SelectFormat Selectionto launch the Format task pane.
Format Major Gridlinesappears at the top of the pane.
SelectColorand change the color toOrange, Accent 2.
Change the axis color and line thickness to match that of the formatted gridlines.
Select theX-axis labelto highlight the X-axis line.
Format Axis appear at the top of the Format task pane.
Set the line throw in toSolid line.
Set the axis line width to2 pt.
exit the Format task pane when you’re finished.
opt for chart background to opt for entire chart.
SelectMove Chartto pop fire up Move Chart dialog box.
SelectNew sheetand jot down a descriptive title for the new sheet.
SelectOKto wrap up the dialog box.
The chart is now located on a separate worksheet and the new name is visible on the sheet tab.
