How to Create a Graph in Excel? (with Images)

A graph helps us to visualize the data in a better way as we are able to recognize the hike and fall down events very easily. This helps the viewer to analyse the data and take further crucial steps. Excel provides us with an easy way to create a graph and it also provides the tools to upgrade the graph.

In this section, we will discuss the steps to create a graph in Excel. We will also explore the methods to upgrade the graph using Chart Tools.

Steps to Create a Graph in Excel 2016:

Step 1: For fabricating a graph you must have data on the excel sheet. As you can see in the image below I have the data of Sales done by Joseph and Sherry from January to December.

Select the range of data for which you want to create a graph.

Step 2: Go to the Insert tab and under Charts group you have Recommended Charts where you can analyse what kind of graph you want to create for your data. Among the option select one of your choice.

Like in the image below I, have selected one from 2-D Line graph.

Step 3: After you select the type of graph it immediately appears on your sheet and the range of data that you have selected for fabricating the graph is highlighted with different colours.

The extreme left column of the selected range of data has become the X-axis of the graph and the rest of the columns are left for the Y-axis.

In the image below you can see the Months column (extreme left column of selected range) has become the X-axis of the graph and the remaining two columns displaying the sales done by Joseph and Sherry has been selected for Y-axis.

Note: If you make any changes in the data that is used to create a graph it will immediately reflect in the graph. Like in the image below, you can see that I have changed the sales done by Joseph in the month of January from 200 to 800 and it immediately reflected in the graph.

Step 4: Well after the graph has been created you can improve or upgrade it using the Chart Tools which have two tabs, Design and Format.

In the Design tab, you have Add Chart Element, Switch Row/Column and Select Data options.

Using Add Chart Elements you can add Axes, Axis Title, Chart Title and many more to your graph.

If you click Select Data it will lead you to the Select Data Source dialog box. Here, at very first you can reselect the range of data to create a graph.

Below at your left side, you have a Legend Entries (Series) where you can manipulate the series of Y-axis. Like, you can add one more series to Y-axis or you can remove a series from the Y-axis, you can even edit or hide one or multiple series from Y-axis.

At the right side, you have the elements of X-axis which you can edit according to your need. After your manipulation click OK.

As you select the graph you can see some buttons to its right like Chart Elements, Chart Style and Filter which are shortcuts of Chart Tools using which you can modify your graph.

You can get the editing options of the Format tab of Chart Tools by doing the double click on the graph. Format Chart Area will appear on the right side of the sheet using which you can change the format of your graph.