From data to report in one minute or less. Ajelix BI is launched! 🚀 Get started for free.

Charts and Graphs in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

  • Author:
  • Category:
  • Last updated:
    May 26, 2023
  • Tags:
Charts and Graphs in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to analyzing and presenting data, charts, and graphs are the perfect tools to help you communicate information in a meaningful and visually appealing way. Whether you’re a student, a business professional, or a data analyst, Excel is a powerful program that can help you create stunning charts and graphs in just a few simple steps.

This article will cover the basics of creating charts and graphs in Excel, from selecting your data to customizing your visuals. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to create stunning charts and graphs in no time. Let’s get started.

Step 1: Select Your Data

The first step in creating charts and graphs in Excel is to select the data you want to visualize. To do this, open your Excel spreadsheet and select the desired cells. Ensure that the data you select is organized in a way that makes sense for the type of chart or graph you’re creating. You can mark the needed rows by hovering your mouse over the data, see the example below where we marked columns A and B for creating a chart.

Screenshot from Excel on how to select the data for chart or graph.

Related Article: How To Print A Graph in Excel and Google Sheets

Step 2: Choose Your Chart or Graph Type

The next step is to decide which type of chart or graph you want to create. Excel offers a wide variety of designs, so you’ll want to select the one that best fits your data set. The most commonly used designs in Excel include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, and scatter plots. Decide which type of chart or graph you want to create, and you’re ready to move to the next step. To choose the chart or graph go to “Insert” > “Charts” and choose the chart or graph type you want to use. In our example, we chose a “line chart” to see the trend over the period of time. See the example below.

Charts and graphs in excel - ajelix blog - make your data visually pleasing.
Screenshot from Excel “Insert” field.

Related Article: How To Create Pivot Chart in Excel

Step 3: Insert Your Charts or Graphs

Now it’s time to insert your chart or graph into your Excel spreadsheet. To do this, select the Insert tab at the top of the Excel window and then select your desired chart or graph type from the menu. Once you’ve selected your chart or graph type, Excel will automatically create a visual representation of your data. In the example below you will see that we created a line chart to better view sales data.

charts and graphs in excel - create your reports - ajelix blog
Screenshot from Excel with inserted graph.

Related Article: How To Delete A Chart in Excel?

Step 4: Customize Your Charts or Graphs

The next step is to customize your chart or graph to reflect better the information you’re trying to communicate. Excel offers a wide variety of customization options, including the ability to add labels, change colors, and add trendlines. To customize your chart, select the Design tab at the top of the Excel window and then select the desired customization option from the menu. Once you have inserted your chart you should design it to meet your needs. Change the title of the chart, change color pallet, and data labels to highlight the results. You can see in our example below that we customized our chart to make it visually pleasing and we add the trendline.

charts and graphs in excel - highlight your data - ajelix blog
Screenshot from Excel, customize your data, and highlight the results.

Related Article: Copy and Remove Conditional Formatting in Excel

Step 5: Save Your Charts or Graphs

Once you’ve created your chart or graph, it’s time to save it so you can use it in the future. To save your chart or graph, select the File tab at the top of the Excel window and select Save As. Then, select the desired file format and enter a file name. Once you’ve done this, your chart or graph will be saved and you can use it whenever you need it.

Related Article: How To Create a Sparkline in Excel?

Conclusion

Creating charts and graphs in Excel is easy to communicate data in a meaningful and visually appealing way. With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to create stunning charts and graphs in no time. So get started today and start visualizing your data like a pro.

Learn more about Excel and Google Sheets hacks in other articles. Stay connected with us on social media and receive more daily tips and updates.

Speed up your spreadsheet tasks with Ajelix AI in Excel

Excel formula generator from Ajelix - more than 15 ai tools for spreadsheets

Similar posts

How to analyze data in Excel spreadsheet banner by author

How To Analyze Data In Excel Spreadsheet

April 4, 2024
Excel is the workhorse of data analysis in countless businesses. It can unlock valuable insights from spreadsheets, but for many, its pow…
How to add drop down list in Excel banner

How To Add Drop Down List in Excel

November 2, 2023
Let’s take a look at how to add drop down list to make your spreadsheets more professional and user-friendly. We’ll take a lo…
How to add checkbox in Excel banner

How To Add Checkboxes In Excel

October 31, 2023
This article will cover steps to add checkboxes in Excel with screenshots and tips to help you tackle this task. Learn how to enable the …

Online Calculators

PostgreSQL dashboard example with sales data for small business screenshot

Management Dashboard Examples With KPIs & Metrics

October 29, 2024
A well-designed management dashboard example is a game-changer for organizations looking to stay agile and proactive. With the right KPIs…
restaurant dashboard example

Restaurant Dashboard Examples & Templates

October 22, 2024
While the kitchen is a restaurant’s heart, data is its brain. Restaurant dashboards offer a comprehensive view of its performance, …
Manufacturing quality dashboard example

Manufacturing Dashboard Examples & KPIs

October 15, 2024
A well-designed manufacturing dashboard offers real-time insights into critical metrics like production efficiency, defect rates, and ove…
Quality dashboard example from ajelix bi

Quality Dashboard Examples For Quality Control

October 10, 2024
Quality control is one of any business’s top priorities. Maintaining high standards is critical, but with so many moving parts—prod…
MYSQL dashboard example screenshot from Ajelix bi - saas dashboard example

SaaS Dashboard Examples & KPIs

October 8, 2024
Are you struggling to track and optimize your SaaS business’s performance? A well-designed SaaS dashboard can be a vital part of yo…
Financial dashboard example for accounting

CFO Dashboard Example & KPIs

September 26, 2024
Tired of sifting through endless spreadsheets? Imagine a dashboard that provides a real-time snapshot of your company’s financial h…

Business Intelligence

24 it kpis for it department banner

24 IT KPIs & Metrics For IT Department With Examples

August 6, 2024
IT KPIs are quantifiable metrics that help IT departments assess their performance and align with overall business objectives. They provi…
26 insurance KPIs for insurance companies banner

26 Insurance KPIs & Metrics For Insurance Agencies

August 1, 2024
Insurance KPIs are metrics insurance companies use to monitor their performance and efficiency. They provide insights into various aspect…
10 administrative kpis for admin department performance banner

10 Administrative KPIs For Admin Department Performance

July 30, 2024
Administrative KPIs are key performance indicators that measure the efficiency and effectiveness of admin functions within an organizatio…
10 equipment rental KPIs for rental business owners banner

10 Equipment Rental KPIs For Rental Business

July 25, 2024
Equipment rental KPIs are measurable values that track how well your rental business is using its equipment to generate profit and satisf…
15 financial KPIs for finance department to track banner

20 Financial KPIs For The Finance Department

July 23, 2024
Financial KPIs are quantifiable metrics that businesses use to track their financial health and performance. They provide valuable insigh…
15 ecommerce kpis for online business owners banner

15 Ecommerce KPIs Any Online Business Should Track

July 18, 2024
Ecommerce KPIs track how well your online store is performing. These metrics provide insights into different areas of your business, like…