Need to Learn How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel?

QI Macros makes bar charts easy
...AND can draw even smarter charts to analyze your data!

Create Bar Charts using QI Macros:

  1. Select your data.
  2. Select Excel Charts > Bar Chart on QI Macros menu.
  3. QI Macros will do the math and draw the graph for you.

Use a Bar Chart to Compare Categories of Data

Bar Graphs and Column Charts are often used to describe the same type of chart with vertical bars. However, in Microsoft Excel, a bar graph has horizontal bars whereas a Column Chart has vertical bars. No matter, what you call them, Bar graphs and Column charts are used to compare different categories of data.

Bar Graph

bar graph made in Excel 2010

Column Chart

column chart made in Excel 2013


Bar Graphs 101

To create a bar graph in Excel, select your data, then click on the Insert tab and then Bar. There are various choices of bar shapes (2-D, 3-D, Cylinder, etc) and formats (clustered, stacked or 100% stacked.)

how to create a bar chart in Excel

Clustered

bar graph

Stacked

stacked bar chart made in Excel 2016

100 % Stacked

100 % stacked bar graph


Consider These "Smarter" Alternatives to Bar Graphs

Line and bar charts are often the "dumb and dumber" of Excel charts. They won't give you the insights you need to make improvements.

If you are tracking data over time, then use a control chart instead of a bar graph. Consider using a histogram to show the distribution of measured data or a Pareto Chart to show the importance of the bars,

Histogram

histogram for analyzing distribution of data

Pareto Chart

use a pareto chart to show the relative importance of the bars

It's time consuming and difficult to create Histograms and Pareto charts in Excel. However, its a snap if you have QI Macros. Download a 30 day trial to see for yourself.


Stop using old technology!

Upgrade Your Excel and Data Analysis Skills to Smart Charts Using QI Macros.

Track Data Over Time

Primitive Chart
line graph
Line Graph
Smart Chart
control chart
Control Chart

Compare Categories

Primitive Chart
pie chart
Pie Chart
Smart Chart
pareto chart
Pareto Chart

Analyze Variation

Primitive Chart
bar or column chart
Bar or Column Chart
Smart Chart
histogram
Histogram

QI Macros add-in for Excel makes creating smart charts a snap.