How to Make a Column Chart in Excel
Last Updated :
06 Dec, 2023
Column Charts provide advanced options that are not available with some other chart types such as trendlines and adding a secondary axis. This tutorial will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating a column chart in Microsoft Excel.
Column charts are used for making comparisons over time or illustrating changes. In the column chart, the horizontal bar shows categories, while the vertical bar shows values.
What is a Column Chart in Excel?
A Column Chart is a Chart in Excel that represents data in vertical columns. The height of the column represents the value for the specific data series in a chart. For comparing the column from left to right column chart can be used. Comparison can be easily seen when there is a single data series.
How to Create a Column Chart in Excel
To draw a column chart in Excel, you first need to have a table, whose values are required for displaying through the chart. So is our first step.
Step 1: Let’s have a scorecard of the previous match as our table and try to visualize it.

Let’s consider this as our desired table. Here the scorecard of India vs West Indies 3rd ODI 2022 is presented.
Step 2: Now, we have to represent this table in a form of a column chart. Then go to the “Insert” menu and select the desired chart or use all chart options (highlighted in sky color). If working on Excel 2013, then charts are under the design tab.

Step 3: You can find different table options there or can manually go see all charts which is the down arrow type button and go to all charts.

Step 4: Select the desired chart and click on OK. The chart will appear in the Excel sheet. You can customize the Excel as per your requirement. We have used Stacked Column as it is best suited for our data. You may use Clustered Column, Stacked Column, 100% Stacked Column, 3D Clustered Column, 3D Stacked Column, 3D 100% Stacked Column, and 3-D Column charts under the column chart option.Â
Our created charts look like this now:-

How to Customize the Column Chart in Excel
For customizing the Column Chart, click on the chart, and three pop-ups will appear, which can help you customize the tile chart title, axis title, colors used, styles, filters used, etc.
- Chart Title: Add a Descriptive title to the Chart to provide context for the data.
- Axis Labels: Label the X-axis and Y-axis so that it should be clearly understood the data categories and values.
- Data Labels: Display data labels on the Column Chart to give exact values.
- Legend: To identify each data series in the Chart customize the legend.
- Colors and Styles: You can change the colors and styles of the Columns to make the Chart visually engaging.
Let’s customize our chart as per requirement and have a better look.
Step 1: From here I have selected the axis title for more clarification, you can further go for any of the options available.
Step 2: Now, let’s change the style of the chart, for this, click on the brush just below the previous plus option.

I have selected my preferred style, you can choose any of them or can create a custom style from the color option.
Step 3: Now, the final thing is dealing with the filters, i.e., which data you want to show and which to hide. For this, go to the filter option just below the style menu. Â

Step 4: In this pop up If you will uncheck any then the particular data about them will be removed from the chart. We don’t require excluding any, so keep it as it is. Our final look at the chart is as below.

Here I have customized the titles and the style for a better look and clarification.
How to Choose a Column Chart in Excel
You can select the Column chart from the drop-down menu as per your requirement. The most commonly used ones are:
- Clustered Column: In this chart columns are displayed side by side, making it easy to compare values within each category.
- Stacked Column: Columns are stacked on top of each other, which shows the total value for each category highlighting the individual contributions of each data series.
- 100% Stacked Column: Columns are stacked to represent 100% of the value for each category, making it easier to compare the relative proportions of different data series.
How to Create Column Chart with Multiple Bars
To create a column chart with multiple bars in Excel, you can follow these steps using the following data:
Step 1: Prepare your Data
First, create a table with the data you want to visualize.
Step 2: Select the data
Highlight the whole data range, including both category labels.
Step 3: Insert the Column Chart
Go to the “Insert” tab on the Excel ribbon.
Click on the “CLustered Column” Chart icon in the ” Charts” Group. This will insert a column chart with multiple bars.
Step 4: Customize the Chart.
How to Make a Stacked Column Chart
Stacked column charts are excellent. Compared to clustered column charts, they play a slightly distinct function.
It was straightforward to compare the performance of players from various matches thanks to the clustered column charts.
We can compare the runs made by each player in various matches using the stacked column chart.
Click Insert > Insert Column or Bar Chart>Stacked Column using the exact same set of cells as in the preceding illustration.
-min.png)

Why are Column Charts so Useful
Some reasons why making column charts are so great:
- With column charts, a plethora of formatting options are accessible.
- In just a few keystrokes, a Column Chart can be created.
- They can be used to compare data, see progress toward a goal, percentage contributions, distribution of data, etc. They are incredibly flexible.
Conclusion
In this article, I’ve demonstrated how to create a column chart in Excel and make some common formatting adjustments. After that, we also discussed why column charts in Excel are helpful. I advise you to read more articles on Excel if you want to understand more. I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you soon!
Similar Reads
How to Make a Comparison Chart in Excel?
A comparison chart is a general kind of chart or diagram which shows the comparison of two or more objects or groups of objects. This comparison diagram shows qualitative and/or quantitative information data. Generally, it is recommended to use a bar or column chart for representing the comparison d
3 min read
How to Make a Pie Chart in Excel
Pie charts are an excellent way to visualize proportions and illustrate how different components contribute to a whole. Whether you're analyzing market share, budget allocation, or survey results, pie charts make complex data easily understandable at a glance. This guide will walk you through how to
6 min read
How To Make An Area Chart In Excel
An Area chart is like a line chart in which the area between the x-axis and the line is colored to show the volume. Data Trends, Comparison of Multiple data Series, Emphasis on cumulative Data, and Time-Based or Categorized data are some key features of the Area chart. In this article, we will see h
5 min read
How to Make a 3D Pie Chart in Excel?
A Pie Chart is a type of chart used to represent the given data in a circular representation. The given numerical data is illustrated in the form of slices of an actual pie. Now, it's really easy to create a 3D Pie Chart in Excel. Steps for making a 3D Pie Chart: Note: This article has been written
1 min read
How to Make a Column Chart in Google Sheets
Column charts in Google Sheets are a powerful tool for presenting data trends and comparisons visually. This guide will provide you with a column chart tutorial to help you create, customize, and effectively use column charts to analyze your data. Whether you're looking to understand data visualizat
5 min read
How to Make a Chart in Google Docs
Creating a chart in Google Docs is an easy process that enhances your documents with clear, visual data representations. This article will provide step-by-step instructions on how to insert and customize charts in Google Docs, helping you present your information in an engaging and easily understand
6 min read
How to Make a Dynamic Gantt Chart in Excel?
The Gantt chart is named after Henry Gantt, an American mechanical engineer and management consultant who devised it in the 1910s. In Excel, a Gantt diagram displays projects or tasks as cascading horizontal bar charts. A Gantt chart depicts the project's breakdown structure by displaying start and
4 min read
How to Create a Step Chart in Excel
A step chart is used to represent data that changes irregularly between time intervals. Now, Excel doesn't have a feature to create a Step Chart like the one shown below but we can create one by making some changes in our data. What is a Step Chart in ExcelA Step chart is the same as a Line Chart. T
4 min read
How to Create a Line Chart in Excel
Line graphs are a highly valuable tool in Excel, helping users analyze trends and patterns effectively over time. They are widely used for time-series analysis in Excel, allowing a clear visual representation of changes in data. In this guide, you'll learn how to create a line graph in Excel, includ
10 min read
How to Make Charts Auto Update in Excel
Making charts in Excel is a great way to visualize your data, but what if you need them to update automatically as your data changes? Knowing how to make charts auto update in Excel can save you time and ensure your visuals are always up-to-date. In this guide, weâll show you how to link your charts
5 min read