How to Create a Bar Chart in MS Excel

Quick summary

Creating a bar chart in Microsoft Excel takes just a few clicks: select your data range, use the Insert tab to choose a bar chart style, and customize the result to fit your needs. This tutorial walks through every step so you can visualize spreadsheet data quickly and accurately.

Steps

1. Select the data range — highlight the cells containing your data, including labels (e.g., A1:B4).
2. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon at the top, then choose Bar Chart (also listed as "Column or Bar Chart").
3. From the dropdown menu, select your preferred bar chart style.
4. To switch the chart type, select the chart, open the Chart Design tab, and click Change Chart Type.
5. Select the bar chart option, hover to preview it, then click OK to insert the chart into your spreadsheet.
6. Customize your bar chart as needed using the available formatting and design options.