How To Make Graph in Excel

In school, curating graphs was a fun activity. Fast forward to a decade later, when I landed my first job, it seemed like a whole new world I wasn’t familiar with. It was rough at first. Excel's sea of data left me feeling lost.

But I set out to master Excel with beginner-friendly Excel tutorials, got tips from coworkers, and most importantly, practiced. Learning how to draw charts and graphs in Excel helped me make sense of all the data overload and turned it into something people could actually understand. They made me way more effective at my job and helped me stand out as someone who could really make data talk.

And, if I could learn how to make graph in Excel, so can you. I’ve curated this beginner-friendly tutorial to help you understand all you need to know about an Excel graph and most importantly, how to draw graph in Excel.

What is an Excel Graph?

Excel skills are a career must-have for data analysis, offering professionals the tools to handle data effectively, boosting job opportunities and advancement potential. Excel's graphing skills are also invaluable. An Excel graph is basically a drawing based on the data sets within an Excel sheet. You can decide which values to take and which to exclude and customize this graph.

Visual representations like an Excel graph are more impactful than a bunch of numbers on a screen. It helps to communicate findings effectively.

How to Plot Graphs in Excel: Step-By-Step

Learn how to make a graph in Excel by following the steps below:

• Insert Tab > Charts > Choose the chart of your choice

To make the most of Excel's power, let's break down the key differences between charts and graphs in Excel.

Difference Between Charts and Graphs in Excel

I will be honest, the terms "chart" and "graph" are used interchangeably and for beginners, it can all feel a bit confusing. Let’s clear things up!

Bottom line: All graphs are charts, but not all charts are graphs.

Meaning?

Charts visually represent data broadly, including graphs, pie charts, and diagrams, simplifying complex data sets, while graphs specifically focus on plotting numerical data on the x and y axes to reveal mathematical relationships and trends, making it crucial to select the appropriate visualization tool based on the specific data analysis needs.

Stay tuned, because I'll dive into some specific ways to use these tools to make your Excel data tell compelling stories! And you will definitely know how to draw a graph in Excel.

Types of Excel Graph

Now you may be wondering “Which type of charts can Excel produce?” And which is the best chart for me? The best way to create a graph in Excel depends on what you want to plot. Let’s look at the table below:

How to Create Chart in Excel

In this tutorial on how to make charts in Excel, let’s keep things simple and start with the top 5 most commonly used charts.

1. Column Chart

Source - goskills

How can you make a column chart in Excel?

Here’s how you can make a column chart:

• Organize your data: It should be in columns and rows.
• Select Data: Highlight the data that you need to put in the graph.
• Go to Insert > Charts > Column Charts

2. Line Chart

How can you make a Line Chart in Excel?

Looking to create a line chart? Here are the steps:

• Organize your data: Data should be arranged in a timely manner with corresponding values.
• Select/Highlight: Select your data.
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Choose chart style

3. Pie Chart

Source - Excel Easy

How can you make a Pie Chart in Excel?

Let’s make a pie chart using the steps below:

• Organize your data: Data should be arranged in columns one for labels and one for corresponding labels.
• Select/Highlight: Select your data.
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Choose the desired Pie Chart icon

4. Bar Chart

Source - Venngage

How to make Bar Chart in Excel?

To learn how to create bar chart in Excel, follow the simple steps below:

• Prepare your data: Like you do for a column chart, put your data with categories in one column and values in the next.
• Select data: Highlight the data.
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Choose Bar Chart Icon

5. Scatter Chart

Source: Numerade

How can you make a Scatter Chart graph in Excel?

Here’s how to make a graph in the scatter chart format:

• Set your data: Lay out two columns related to numerical data.
• Select data: Highlight both the columns.
• Go to Insert tab > Charts > Choose Scatter Plot Icon

Tips and Tricks to How to Make Graph in Excel

Looking to learn how to plot graph in Excel? Here are some general charting tips including how to make a graph in Excel:

• Black and white patterns: Use grayscale pattern fills for monochrome printing or photocopying. This adds visual interest to your graphs while staying printer-friendly.

• Save a chart as a picture: Need your Excel graph for a presentation or website? Use the "Save As" > Web Page workaround to create a separate PNG image file.

• Adjust column overlap and spacing: For better visual balance in your graphs, right-click on a series > Format Data Series to modify overlap and gap width.

• Larger bars: If you're creating graphs with date-based data and find the bars too narrow, right-click the X-axis > Format Axis > Text Axis to increase bar width.

Advanced Charting Techniques to help learn how to make a graph in Excel

If you are an advanced learner looking for advanced tips on how to insert chart in Excel, here’s some advice you can choose to follow:

• Plotting on a second axis: When visualizing data with very different scales on your graph, assign a series to a secondary axis for clarity.

• Crezting combination charts: Mix and match graph types (ex: line and column) for a more informative display. Select a series -> Change Chart Type.

• Auto-growing Excel charts: If your graph's data will expand over time, format your data as a table for charts that update automatically.

• Smarter chart title: Want a chart title that changes as your data does? Link it directly to a worksheet cell.

• Variable colors for Excel charts: Add visual appeal to your graphs by right-clicking a series > Format Data Series > select "Vary colors by point".

In Conclusion

In the tutorial “How to Make Graph in Excel” I have covered the basics of how to prepare graphs in Excel. This brings us to one of the main functions of Excel; to provide better data organization and visualization. This makes graphs and charts integral to Excel.

If you are planning to go into the in-depth details of “how to make charts in Excel'' then why not consider turning it into a full-blown career? You can upskill yourself with the myriad of professional and relevant courses that upGrad offers. Designed and curated by industry experts, these courses are not only easy to understand but also offer the professional skills you need to shine in your career.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you make an XY graph in Excel?

To create an XY graph, first select X and Y data columns, then go to Insert > Charts > Scatter Plot Graph. (Since Scatter plot graphs are the most common XY charts)

2. How do I create a chart with multiple data in Excel?

Select all the data and labels you want to include then from the Insert tab > Charts.

3. How do you write on a graph in Excel?

Here’s how to make graph in Excel that you can write on. You will have to insert a text box to write anything on a graph in Excel. (Insert > Text Box)

4. How do I make a bar graph in Excel?

To learn how to make bar graph in Excel, follow the steps here. First, you will need all your data in columns > Select the data > Go to Insert > Charts > Bar Chart. (Choose from the various styles of the Bar Graph)

5. How to make a line graph?

Line graphs are one of the first graphs you will come across while learning how to prepare graph in Excel. First, organize your data in periods and columns. Then go to Insert > Charts > Line Chart.

6. What is the formula to graph line?

y = mx + b where m = slope, b = y intercept.

7. Is Excel good for making graphs?

Yes, Excel is good for making graphs as one of Excel's core functions is data organization and visualization. Therefore, learning how to create graph in Excel will give you a career-changing skill.

8. Why are charts useful in Excel?

Charts help understand the data through visualization. It helps in understanding the trends and patterns of the raw numbers.

9. Can you manually make a graph in Excel?

Yes, one can manually plot graph in Excel with more complex plotting points.