How To Create A Bar Graph In Excel 2007

1
Open Microsoft Excel. It resembles a white "X" on a green background.
- If you want to create a graph from pre-existing data, instead double-click the Excel document that contains the data to open it and proceed to the next section.
2

Click Blank workbook (PC) or Excel Workbook (Mac). It's in the top-left side of the template window.
3
Add labels for the graph's X- and Y-axes. To do so, click the A1 cell (X-axis) and type in a label, then do the same for the B1 cell (Y-axis).
- For example, a graph measuring the temperature over a week's worth of days might have "Days" in A1 and "Temperature" in B1.
4
Enter data for the graph's X- and Y-axes. To do this, you'll type a number or word into the A or B column to apply it to the X- or Y- axis, respectively.
- For example, typing "Monday" into the A2 cell and "70" into the B2 field might show that it was 70 degrees on Monday.
5

Finish entering your data. Once your data entry is complete, you're ready to use the data to create a bar graph.

1
Select all of your data. To do so, click the A1 cell, hold down ⇧ Shift , and then click the bottom value in the B column. This will select all of your data.
- If your graph uses different column letters, numbers, and so on, simply remember to click the top-left cell in your data group and then click the bottom-right while holding ⇧ Shift .
2

Click the Insert tab. It's at the top of the Excel window, just right of the Home tab.
3

Click the "Bar chart" icon. This icon is in the "Charts" group below and to the right of the Insert tab; it resembles a series of three vertical bars.
4
Click a bar graph option. The templates available to you will vary depending on your operating system and whether or not you've purchased Excel, but some popular options include the following:
- 2-D Column - Represents your data with simple, vertical bars.
- 3-D Column - Presents three-dimensional, vertical bars.
- 2-D Bar - Presents a simple graph with horizontal bars instead of vertical ones.
- 3-D Bar - Presents three-dimensional, horizontal bars.
5
Customize your graph's appearance. Once you decide on a graph format, you can use the "Design" section near the top of the Excel window to select a different template, change the colors used, or change the graph type entirely.
- The "Design" window only appears when your graph is selected. To select your graph, click it.
- You can also click the graph's title to select it and then type in a new title. The title is typically at the top of the graph's window.

Sample Bar Graphs

Add New Question

Question

How can I change the graph from horizontal to vertical?

'Bar Graph' is horizontal. 'Column Chart' is the same but vertical, so use that instead.
Question

How do I move an Excel bar graph to a Word document?

You can copy and paste the graph. Do this the same way you'd copy and paste regular text.
Question

How do I adjust the bar graph width in Excel?

Click on the element you want to adjust. For example, if you want to adjust the width of the bars, you would click on the bars. If that doesn't bring up options, try right clicking. Decreasing the gap width will make the bars appear to widen. If you have more than one set of data (i.e. the cost of two or more items over a given time span), you can also adjust the series overlap. If you're not satisfied with the automatic layout of the axes, you can adjust these at your own peril.
Question

How do I title the graph?

Double click on it or look at the settings, usually they can be found on the right hand side of the graph.
Question

How can I create a bar graph template that can be used over and over as a new graph by simply changing the data in the spreadsheet fields?

Vasili Karalewich

Community Answer

Make a blank table, then highlight the table and insert the graph. The graph will be blank (all white), so just put in fake data to make sure it works. Then, clear the table and copy the document. Make a new copy of the spreadsheet every time you need to use the template.
Question

How can I copy and paste a graph?

If you want to copy from excel and paste to word, for instance, then right click on the graph and select 'copy' from the drop-down menu, and paste it into your word document.
Question

How do I add a source note at the bottom?

Vasili Karalewich

Community Answer

Just add a text box right on top of the graph -- this will automatically group to the graph so when you move it, it moves with it.
Question

How do I make Excel plot only one element?

Only highlight the data you want to make a graph for in your selection. Then when you create your graph, only this data will be displayed.
Question

How can I make one graph using two separate tables?

Use the control button to select the two sets of data - x first and Y after.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

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

Submit

Graphs can be copied and then pasted into other Microsoft Office programs like Word or PowerPoint.
If your graph switched the x and y axes from your table, go to the "Design" tab and select "Switch Row/Column" to fix it.