Types Of Charts in Excel - Learn How To Create & Customize

Understanding the types of charts in Excel enhances your ability to present information clearly. Let's see how we can use them in Excel.

Shreeya Thakur

0 min read

Types Of Charts in Excel - Learn How To Create & Customize

0 min read

Table of content:

Creating and Customizing Charts in Excel
Overview of Different Types of Charts in Excel
Final Remarks
Frequently Asked Questions

Charts have been a crucial part of data representation for decades. Excel offers various types of charts to visualize data effectively. From simple bar and line charts to complex scatter plots, each type serves a unique purpose. Understanding the types of charts in Excel enhances your ability to present information clearly. This knowledge is essential for anyone working with data, whether in business, education, or research.

This article helps you learn how you can add different types of charts in Excel and improve your data analysis. Let’s begin.

Creating and Customizing Charts in Excel

Insert Chart

Excel allows users to create various charts easily. To start, select your data range. Then, go to the "Insert" tab on the ribbon. Click on the "Charts" section to view different chart options. You can choose from bar, line, or pie charts. Each type serves different purposes.

Charts in Excel

Recommended Charts

Excel provides a feature called "Recommended Charts." This feature suggests useful charts based on your data selection. Click on "Recommended Charts" to see these suggestions. Excel analyzes your data and displays options that best represent it, helping you make informed decisions quickly.

Change Chart Type

Changing the chart type is straightforward. Select the chart you want to modify. Then, right-click and choose "Change Chart Type." You can switch to bubble charts, scatter charts, or even map charts. This flexibility allows for better visualization of your data.

Chart Elements

Customizing chart elements enhances clarity. You can add titles, labels, and legends through the "Chart Elements" button. Adjusting these features improves the overall impact of your visualizer chart. Properly labeled charts lead to more informative presentations.

Chart Templates

For consistency, consider using chart templates. Excel offers pre-designed templates that save time. You can apply these templates across different projects. This streamlines your workflow while maintaining a professional appearance.

Overview of Different Types of Charts in Excel

Column Chart

Column charts are one of the common chart types in Excel. They display data using vertical bars. These charts are useful for comparing values across categories. For example, sales data over several months can be effectively shown with a column chart.

Line Chart

Line charts represent data points connected by straight lines. Users often choose different line chart types to display trends over time. They help visualize changes in data at regular intervals. A line chart can illustrate stock price movements or temperature changes throughout a year.

Pie Chart

Pie charts show proportions of a whole. Each slice represents a category's contribution to the total. This chart type is effective for displaying percentage-based data. For instance, a pie chart can depict market share among competitors.

Bar Chart

Bar charts are similar to column charts but use horizontal bars. They are ideal for comparing large datasets with long category names. For example, survey results showing preferences can be displayed as a bar chart.

Scatter Plot

Scatter plots display values for two variables on the X and Y axes. They help identify correlations between variables. For instance, a scatter plot can show the relationship between advertising spend and sales revenue.

Area Chart

Area charts emphasize the magnitude of change over time by filling the area below the line. They are beneficial for showing cumulative totals across categories.

Learn more about creating different types of charts in Excel

Final Remarks

Learning about the various types of charts in Excel can transform your data presentation. Each chart type serves a unique purpose, helping you visualize data effectively. From column and bar charts to advanced options like radar and treemap, Excel helps to elevate your reports and analyses. So, roll up your sleeves and start creating impactful charts that tell your data story. Happy charting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the main types of charts in Excel?

Excel offers various chart types, including column, bar, line, pie, doughnut, area, stock, surface, radar, treemap, histogram, and Pareto charts. Each serves unique data visualization purposes.

Q2. How do I create a chart in Excel?

To create a chart in Excel, select your data range. Then, go to the "Insert" tab and choose your desired chart type from the Chart group. Customize it as needed.

Q3. What is the difference between column and bar charts?

Column charts display data vertically while bar charts show it horizontally. Use column charts for time series data and bar charts for comparing categories.

Q4. When should I use a pie chart?

Use pie charts to represent parts of a whole. They are effective for displaying percentage distributions but can be misleading with too many categories.

Q5. How do I customize my Excel charts?

You can customize Excel charts by selecting the chart and using the "Chart Tools" options. Adjust colors, styles, labels, and legends to enhance readability.

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Edited by

Shreeya Thakur

Sr. Associate Content Writer at Unstop

I am a biotechnologist-turned-content writer and try to add an element of science in my writings wherever possible. Apart from writing, I like to cook, read and travel.