How to Create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel?

A Clustered Column Chart is one of the best-suited visualization designs for displaying data points within a limited space.

The visualization design can help you display more than one metric in clustered vertical columns. And each clustered column shares the same axis labels. Its vertical bars are organized by categories.

The chart allows you to conduct a direct comparison of multiple data points. More so, it’s straightforward to decode.

Popular and widely used visualization tools, such as Excel, lack ready-made Clustered Column Charts.

However, you can transform Excel into a reliable tool by installing third-party add-ins to access visually appealing and ready-to-use Clustered Column Graphs.

In this blog, you’ll discover:

Table of Contents:

1. What is a Clustered Column Chart?
2. Clustered Column Chart Example
3. Features of Clustered Column Charts
4. When should you create a Clustered Column chart in Excel?
5. How to Create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel: Step-By-Step
6. Step 1: Open Excel And Select My Apps
7. Step 2: Search Clustered Column Chart
8. Step 3: Insert the Clustered Column chart
9. Step 4: Select And Arrange Data
10. Step 5: Visualize Clustered Column Chart
11. Pros and Cons of Clustered Column Chart
12. Best Practices for Clustered Column Charts
13. FAQs on Clustered Column Chart
14. Wrap Up

Before jumping right into the how-to guide, we’ll address the following question: what is a Clustered Column Chart?

Video Tutorial: How to Create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel?

What is a Clustered Column Chart?

Definition: A Clustered Column Chart in Excel is a visualization design that uses groups of bars to compare key data points.

The visualization allows you to display insights into subcategories that exist in your data.

Look at the example below.

For example, let’s say your goal is to compare product orders across 4 quarters. Each cluster will represent a quarterly period. The series of columns in the cluster will reflect the total orders of all the months in the respective quarters in a financial year.

The y-axis will depict the sales numbers range for each quarter month. You can easily compare each month’s performance by looking at the size of each column on the scale.

In a Clustered Column Chart, the categories and series share the same axis scale, facilitating reliable insights into the data being analyzed. Meanwhile, a Stacked Waterfall Chart proves especially beneficial for illustrating a series of data points arranged sequentially, effectively portraying cumulative changes over time or across categories.

How to create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel should never stress you.

Keep reading because we’ll take you through Clustered Column Chart examples in the coming section.

You don’t want to miss this.

Clustered Column Chart Example

Let’s discuss examples of Clustered Columns Chart Example

Example

Let’s imagine you have an electronics store.

Your goal is to compare sales of different products among 4 quarters of the year.

What’s your go-to chart for the task?

You guessed right if your answer was a Clustered Column Chart.

So, what’s the key takeaway from the data below?

Quarters	Headphones	Projectors	Home Theaters	TVs
Q1	20	18	50	85
Q2	40	30	40	70
Q3	20	13	15	20
Q4	45	22	46	40

Notice the difference after visualizing the table below.

What are the insights?

• TVs have high demand among other products during the 4-quarter.
• Projectors have the lowest demand.

How to create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel should never be an Achilles heel for you. Keep reading to discover more.

In the coming section, we’ll take you through the importance of Clustered Column Charts.

Features of Clustered Column Charts

1. Side-by-Side Comparison: Displays multiple data series side-by-side for each category, making it easy to compare individual values within groups.
2. Categorical Grouping: Organizes data into categories and subcategories, visually grouping related data points.
3. Vertical Bars: Uses vertical bars to represent data values, with the height of each bar corresponding to the value it represents.
4. Multiple Data Series: Supports multiple data series, allowing you to compare different metrics or variables across the same categories.
5. Axis Customization: Offers customization of axes, including scaling, labeling, and formatting to better represent your data.
6. Color Coding: Utilizes color coding to distinguish between different data series, enhancing visual clarity and interpretation.
7. Data Labels: Provides options to display data labels on the bars for precise value representation.
8. Legend Inclusion: Includes a legend to identify each data series, helping users understand what each bar represents.
9. Versatility: Can be used for a wide range of data types, from financial performance to survey results, making it a versatile chart option.
10. Compatibility: Easily created and customized in Excel and other spreadsheet software, making it accessible for various users.

In the coming section, we’ll take you through how to create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel.

When should you create a Clustered Column chart in Excel?

You should create a Clustered Column chart in Excel when you want to compare values across different categories and subcategories side-by-side. Alternatively, a Clustered Stacked Bar graph can be used to display similar data with an emphasis on the total value of each category and the breakdown of subcategories.

This chart is useful for visualizing differences and trends within grouped data, such as sales performance across different regions and periods. It helps in easily comparing the individual data points within each category and understanding the composition of each group.

How to Create a Clustered Column Chart in Excel?

Excel is one of the instruments that business owners use to store, organize, and analyze data. It has a library of business charts and graphs.

However, the spreadsheet application lacks a ready-to-use Clustered Column Chart.

We’re not advising you to do away with Excel.

This is because there’s an amazingly affordable visualization tool that comes as an Excel add-in for data analysis to access insightful and easy-to-customize Clustered Column Charts.

The application is called ChartExpo.

What is ChartExpo?

ChartExpo is one of the best chart add-ins for Excel which you can easily install to access ready-made and visually appealing Clustered Column Charts.

Features and Benefits

• You have maximum freedom to customize your Excel charts and graphs to your liking.
• ChartExpo is a mere $10 a month after the end of the trial It’s cheaper than Starbucks.
• You don’t need sophisticated design or coding skills to generate stunning, insightful charts in Excel for your stories. Save time with this drag-and-drop application.
• The tool has a large number of templates to ensure you have a wider selection of charts to choose from. This means you don’t have to waste time moving from one tool to another looking for charts.

This section will use a Clustered Column Chart in Excel to visualize the table above.

You don’t want to miss this.

Step 1: Open Excel And Select My Apps

• Select ChartExpo

Step 2: Search Clustered Column Chart

Step 3: Insert the Clustered Column chart

Step 4: Select And Arrange Data

Step 5: Visualize Clustered Column Chart

Pros and Cons of Clustered Column Chart

Pros:

1. Clear Comparison: Allows for easy comparison of individual data points across different categories and subcategories.
2. Visual Clarity: Makes it straightforward to identify trends and variations within grouped data.
3. Data Segmentation: Helps in analyzing data that fall into different groups or categories.
4. Immediate Insights: Provides quick visual insights into relative values and performance metrics.

Cons:

1. Cluttered Appearance: Can become cluttered and hard to read if there are too many categories or data series.
2. Limited Detail: May not effectively convey detailed information or nuanced differences between closely related values.
3. Overlapping Bars: In cases with many data points, bars may overlap, reducing readability.
4. Not Ideal for Time Series: Less effective for showing trends over time compared to other chart types like line charts.

Best Practices for Clustered Column Charts

1. Limit Data Series: Keep the number of data series manageable to avoid clutter and make the chart easier to read. Ideally, use no more than 3-5 series.
2. Use Clear Labels: Ensure that axis labels, category names, and data series labels are clear and descriptive. This helps the audience quickly understand what the chart represents.
3. Consistent Colors: Use distinct and consistent colors for each data series. Avoid using similar shades that could confuse the reader.
4. Order Categories Logically: Arrange categories in a logical order, such as chronologically, alphabetically, or by importance, to enhance comprehension.
5. Avoid Overlapping Bars: Ensure there is sufficient spacing between bars to prevent overlap, which can make the chart difficult to interpret.
6. Use Data Labels Sparingly: Include data labels only when necessary to highlight specific values. Overuse can clutter the chart and reduce readability.
7. Highlight Key Data: Use color or annotations to highlight important data points or trends that you want the audience to focus on.
8. Use a Legend Wisely: Place the legend in a position that doesn’t obstruct the view of the chart. Ensure it’s easy to associate colors with the corresponding data series.
9. Check Axis Scale: Set the axis scale appropriately to avoid misleading visual representation. The scale should accurately reflect the differences between data points.

FAQs on Clustered Column Chart

What is the difference between a Clustered and Stacked Column Chart?

In a Clustered Column Chart, bars are grouped. And this allows you to display insights into subcategories that exist in your data.

The extra bars allow you to draw rich and in-depth comparison insights.

On the other hand, a Stacked Column Chart is made up of bars divided into subcategories that add up to the whole.

Wrap Up

A Clustered Column Chart is one of the best-suited visualization designs for displaying data points within a limited space.

The visualization design can help you display more than one metric in clustered vertical columns. And each clustered column shares the same axis labels. Its vertical bars are organized by categories.

The chart allows you to conduct a direct comparison of multiple data points. More so, it’s straightforward to decode.