how to draw graphs in excel

Download Commodity

Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to create a graph or chart in Microsoft Excel. You tin create a graph from data in both the Windows and the Mac versions of Microsoft Excel.

Steps

1

Open up Microsoft Excel. Its app icon resembles a greenish box with a white "X" on information technology.
2

Click Blank workbook . It's a white box in the upper-left side of the window.

Advertisement
3
Consider the type of graph you want to make. At that place are iii basic types of graph that you tin can create in Excel, each of which works best for sure types of data:^[1]
- Bar - Displays one or more sets of data using vertical bars. Best for listing differences in data over time or comparing 2 similar sets of data.
- Line - Displays one or more sets of data using horizontal lines. Best for showing growth or reject in data over time.
- Pie - Displays one prepare of data as fractions of a whole. All-time for showing a visual distribution of data.
iv
Add your graph's headers. The headers, which determine the labels for individual sections of data, should go in the top row of the spreadsheet, starting with jail cell B1 and moving right from at that place.
- For example, to create a prepare of data called "Number of Lights" and another set called "Power Nib", you would type Number of Lights into cell B1 and Power Bill into C1
- E'er leave cell A1 blank.
5
Add your graph'southward labels. The labels that separate rows of data go in the A cavalcade (starting in prison cell A2). Things like time (east.k., "Day i", "Twenty-four hours 2", etc.) are usually used equally labels.
- For example, if you're comparing your budget with your friend'due south budget in a bar graph, y'all might label each column past calendar week or calendar month.
- You lot should add a label for each row of data.
half-dozen
Enter your graph's information. Starting in the cell immediately below your first header and immediately to the right of your first characterization (most likely B2), enter the numbers that you want to use for your graph.
- Yous tin printing the Tab ↹ key in one case yous're done typing in one jail cell to enter the information and jump ane cell to the right if you're filling in multiple cells in a row.
vii

Select your data. Click and drag your mouse from the top-left corner of the data group (eastward.m., jail cell A1) to the lesser-right corner, making certain to select the headers and labels likewise.
8

Click the Insert tab. It'south virtually the elevation of the Excel window. Doing so volition open a toolbar beneath the Insert tab.
9
Select a graph type. In the "Charts" section of the Insert toolbar, click the visual representation of the type of graph that you desire to employ. A drop-down card with different options will appear.
- A bar graph resembles a series of vertical bars.
- A line graph resembles ii or more than squiggly lines.
- A pie graph resembles a sectioned-off circle.
10
Select a graph format. In your selected graph'southward drop-down carte, click a version of the graph (e.g., 3D) that you desire to utilise in your Excel document. The graph will be created in your document.
- You lot can also hover over a format to see a preview of what it will look like when using your information.
11
Add a title to the graph. Double-click the "Chart Championship" text at the top of the nautical chart, then delete the "Chart Championship" text, replace it with your ain, and click a blank infinite on the graph.
- On a Mac, you lot'll instead click the Pattern tab, click Add Chart Element, select Nautical chart Championship, click a location, and type in the graph'south title.^[2]
12
Salvage your document. To do then:
- Windows - Click File, click Save As, double-click This PC, click a relieve location on the left side of the window, type the document'southward name into the "File name" text box, and click Save.
- Mac - Click File, click Save Every bit..., enter the certificate's name in the "Save Every bit" field, select a relieve location past clicking the "Where" box and clicking a binder, and click Salve.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

How do I alter the horizontal axis to a vertical axis in Excel?

Click "Edit" and then printing "Move." If this doesn't work, double click the axis and apply the dots to move it.
Question

How do I print a graph only in Excel?

Blazon control p on your laptop or go to print on the page font of your screen?
Question

How practice I label a Series?

Jayna Akanova

Community Respond

Right-click the chart with the data series y'all want to rename, and click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, nether Legend Entries (Series), select the data series, and click Edit. In the Series proper name box, type the proper name you want to use.
Question

How to rename data serial?

Jayna Akanova

Customs Answer

Right-click the chart with the data serial you want to rename, and click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, under Legend Entries (Series), select the data series, and click Edit. In the Serial name box, type the proper name you desire to apply.
Question

How tin can I change the range of numbers in the vertical axis?

Jayna Akanova

Community Reply

In a chart, click the value centrality that you want to alter, or practice the post-obit to select the axis from a list of chart elements: Click anywhere in the chart. On the Format tab, in the Current Pick group, click the arrow next to the Nautical chart Elements box, and so click Vertical (Value) Centrality.
Question

How can I add another vertical axis in a graph?

Deborah Archary

Community Respond

Bold y'all already know how to brand a basic bar graph from a workbook? If non, bank check out Wikihow's commodity "Create a Graph in Excel." Keep in listen, Column A is used for your horizontal axis data. B1, C1, D1 etc. can exist used as headings for each vertical centrality. Input information from prison cell 2 onwards in each column. Just make sure any data y'all input into these columns correlate cell by cell with your column A horizontal axis information. The information inputted in these columns i.e. B, C, D, East, etc. will be converted into a bar in your bar graph when you select all your information, click "insert", then "chart" and cull bar graph.
Question

How do I change a data series?

To alter a data series, you would select a range of your spreadsheet appropriate for the data.
Question

How exercise I modify the color on my bar graph?

Ahhna Shrivstava

Community Answer

Click on the nautical chart and go to chart design. Y'all will become some options such as white to black. To alter the color of bars, simply click on a bar. All bars volition automaticly become selected. Go to format and change the color.

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

You can change the graph's visual advent on the Design tab.
If you lot don't desire to select a specific type of graph, you can click Recommended Charts and then select a graph from Excel'due south recommendation window.

Some graph formats won't include all of your data, or volition brandish it in a confusing manner. It's important to choose a graph format that works with your data.

About This Article

Article Summary X

ane. Enter the graph'southward headers.
2. Add the graph's labels.
3. Enter the graph's information.
4. Select all information including headers and labels.
five. Click Insert.
6. Select a graph type.
vii. Select a graph format.
eight. Add a title to the graph.

Did this summary help you lot?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,556,724 times.