Visualizing data is a key part of effective analysis, and Excel offers a wide range of tools to help you present information clearly. Understanding the different types of charts in Excel can help you choose the best way to display your data based on your goals and audience. From simple visuals like bar charts and pie charts to more advanced options such as scatter plots, histograms, and combo charts, each chart type serves a specific purpose in data storytelling. In this guide, you’ll learn about the most commonly used Excel chart types, their functions, and when to use each one to make your data easier to interpret and more impactful.
Different Chart Types in Excel
There are various charts available in excel. Namely, they are:
- Line Chart
- Bar Chart
- Column Chart
- Area Chart
- Pie Chart
- Surface Chart
In this example, we will be using random car sales data, including model name and the number of cars sold, as the dataset and represent it in the various graphs.
Create dataset
In this step, we will be inserting random financial sales data into our excel sheet. Below is the screenshot of the random data we will use for our various graphs.
Fig. 1 - DatasetLine Chart
Line charts are most helpful in representing the trends. This can be very useful to analyze the ups and downs in a range of data over a particular time span. The data points in the chart are connected with the lines.
Note: To insert the graph, we need to select our dataset(or data table) and go to insert and then in the chart section and insert whatever graph we want.
Fig. 2 - Line ChartBar Chart
Bar charts are used to represent the categorical data using the rectangular horizontal bars with their height and length proportional to the data values it is used to represent.
Fig. 3 - Bar ChartColumn Chart
Column charts are used to represent the data in a vertical chart using the vertical bars. These graphs are mostly used for comparing the data points in the data. Column chart
Fig. 4 - Column ChartArea Chart
Area charts are used to display graphically quantitative data. It is similar to the line chart and based on it. The area between the lines is filled with color, and they are easy to analyze as they are similar to the line chart showing ups and downs in the data.
Fig5 - Area ChartPie Chart
Pie charts are circular statistical graphs that are divided into slices of pie in the proportion to data values to represent the data. They are commonly used to analyze the percentage allocation of data points incomplete dataset.
Fig6 - Pie ChartSurface Chart
Surface charts are 3-dimensional charts that are used to represent the data in a 3-dimensional landscape. They are mainly used to represent the large dataset. They display a variety of data at the same time.
Fig. 7 - Surface ChartConclusion
Choosing the right chart type in Excel allows you to communicate your data more effectively and highlight key insights. Whether you’re summarizing values with a column chart, comparing trends with a line chart, or showing proportions with a pie chart, Excel gives you flexible options to suit different needs. By understanding the strengths of each Excel chart type, you’ll be better prepared to turn raw data into meaningful visuals that support smarter decisions and clearer communication.
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