How To Make a Bar Graph in Google Sheets: No Fuss 2023 Guide

Video how to create bar graph in google sheets

Have you ever wondered how to make a bar graph in Google Sheets? While Google Sheets is an excellent tool for entering and storing data, plain cells may not be the most efficient way to visualize data. That’s where graphs and charts come in, and in this guide, we’ll show you how to create a bar graph in Google Sheets.

The Basics: Creating a Bar Graph in Google Sheets

The process of making a bar graph in Google Sheets is incredibly simple. Just follow these steps:

Select the data: Highlight the data you want to include in your bar graph.
Go to “Insert” > “Chart”: In the toolbar, click on “Insert” and then choose “Chart.”
Choose the chart type: In the “Chart editor,” select the “Bar chart” option.
Close the “Chart editor”: Once you’re satisfied with your chart, simply close the “Chart editor.”

And that’s it! Creating a bar graph in Google Sheets is as easy as that.

Creating a Bar Graph with Examples

Let’s say you have a dataset that looks like this:

To create a simple bar graph using this dataset, follow these steps:

Select the dataset: Highlight the dataset, including the headers.
Click on “Insert chart”: In the toolbar, click on the “Insert chart” icon. This will insert a suggested chart in the worksheet.
Open the “Chart editor”: In the “Chart editor,” click on the “Setup” tab.
Change the chart type: In the “Chart editor,” change the chart type to “Bar chart.”

By following these steps, you’ll have a bar graph in your worksheet, visualizing your data like this:

Creating a Stacked Bar Chart

If you have multiple data ranges and want to create a stacked bar chart, here’s what you need to do:

Select the dataset: Highlight the dataset, including the headers.
Click on “Insert chart”: In the toolbar, click on the “Insert chart” icon.
Open the “Chart editor”: In the “Chart editor,” click on the “Setup” tab.
Change the chart type: In the “Chart editor,” change the chart type to “Stacked Bar Chart.”

By following these steps, you’ll have a stacked bar chart, visualizing your data like this:

Creating a 100% Stacked Bar Graph

If you want to create a bar chart where all the bars are equal in size and show the value of each series as a percentage, follow these additional steps:

Insert a stacked bar chart: Follow the steps for creating a stacked bar chart.
Edit the chart: Click on the three dots at the top right part of the chart and then click on “Edit chart.”
Change the stacking: In the “Edit chart” pane, click on “Setup” and select “100%” in the “Stacking” options.

By following these steps, you’ll have a 100% stacked bar chart, visualizing your data like this:

Customizing the Bar Graph

Google Sheets offers various customization options for your bar graph. To access these options, follow these steps:

Open the “Chart editor”: Double-click on the chart to open the “Chart editor.”
Go to “Customize”: Click on “Customize” in the “Chart” menu.
Explore the customization options: In the “Chart editor” tab, you’ll find options to customize the chart style, axis titles, series, legend, horizontal axis, vertical axis, and gridlines.

Feel free to experiment with these options to create a bar graph that fits your needs. Remember, the best way to learn is by trying it yourself.

Conclusion

Creating a bar graph in Google Sheets is a simple and effective way to visualize your data. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily create both simple and stacked bar graphs. Don’t forget to customize your graph to make it visually appealing and meaningful.

If you want to learn more about charts and graphs, check out our other guides on creating different types of charts in Google Sheets. And for more in-depth knowledge, you can also explore online courses on creating visually appealing charts and graphs.

So, go ahead and create your own bar graphs in Google Sheets. Happy charting!