How to Make a Graph in Excel

Making a graph is very common in our work and life, which is of great help for us to demonstrate our presentation and illustrate our ideas. Charts or graphs are able to improve the quality of our data by providing an easy-to-understand visualization of numeric values. There are different kinds of graphs or charts in excel, and each one is suitable for different occasions.

So, in this post, we would like to talk about how to make a graph in Microsoft Excel. The steps to make a graph in Excel are as follows.

Step 1. Input or enter the data that you want to make a graph into a Worksheet.

The data is vital in a graph. Copy the data from your files or enter it manually. Bear in mind the accuracy of the number and data. To take the following data, for example, this is the student’s plan on National Day in one class. Column A is the situation of students’ plan on National Day; while Column B is the corresponding number.

Step 2. Click the range of your entered data and choose one of the graphs that suitable for your data in the tab interface.

The kinds of graphs and charts in Excel are diverse, like column graphs, line graphs, pie charts, radar graphs, scatter charts, and so on. Just choose one suitable graph based on your own requirements. For instance, I think the data that we have mentioned above is suitable for column graphs. So, go to the “Insert” tab and click the column icon in the charts section directly.

Step 3. Add a title to the graph

Adding a title to your graph is an essential part. Just type your desired title and go to the “Charts Tool” to design the characters’ size, style, color, and so on.

Step 4. Add chart elements

Adding chart elements can make it better to display the data. You can select a chart element by clicking the “Add Chart Element”. You can choose to axis titles, data labels, and other elements according to your own requirements.

Step 5. Switch the data on each axis, if you need to.

Sometimes, we need to change the data on each axis to beautify our charts or make it look clearer. So, you can right-click the graph firstly; and then click “Select Data” and “Switch /Column” one by one. After you click “OK”, the operation becomes successful. What you must pay attention to is that you can’t flip axes for every chart at will. For example, you can’t do it if you have more than two variables.

 Step 6. Adjust the color or layout of your data, if necessary.

You can click the “Chart Design” tab if you want to change the color or layout of the chart or graph. The colors and layouts in it are rich enough. So, just choose one which is proper to demonstrate your data. At the same time, if you would like to change the size of the graph, you can drag the chart’s lines or input the height and width of the graph manually.

The functions and tools in Excel are diverse enough because there are many other functions and tools that we haven’t used in today’s example. If you need to deal with complicated data, try to use them to a large extent. Sometimes, the graph format will be changed when we send it to others. A good way is to convert Excel to PDF. At the same time, it’s very likely that different users will use different versions of Excel. So, you will ask whether the operation in different versions is the same. Don’t worry. Most of the functions are the same across all versions of Excel.

To conclude, graphs and charts are able to add extra color or shine when we make a presentation or show our ideas. So, try to use the graphs in excel as much as possible when your data is a little complicated. For more details or questions about how to make a graph in Excel, you can visit:

How to Use Data Visualization to Win Over Your Audience 

How to Use Excel: 18 Simple Excel Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts