How to Add a Chart in Excel?

Are you tired of staring at a never-ending sea of numbers on your Excel worksheet? Are you looking for a way to make your data appealing and easier to understand?

Look no further.

This guide will show you how to add a chart in Excel. You can transform your data into an insightful and illuminating chart with only a few clicks.

Yes, you read that right.

Let me share a case study to illustrate the significance of charting in Excel. One of my clients needed help comprehending his sales team’s performance. He had access to a large quantity of data, but it was challenging to make sense of it. I advised him to add charts in Excel to visualize the data.

This transformed how he handled this data. It enabled him to discover patterns and trends that were not apparent. As a result, it assisted him in making wiser business choices.

Charts not only make data visually appealing. They also highlight trends and patterns that might take time to notice in raw data.

Grab your mouse, and let’s get charting.

Table of Content:

1. What is a Chart in Excel?
2. Best Excel Charts for Data Analysis
3. Pros and Cons of Creating Charts in Excel
4. How to Add a Chart in Excel?
5. Tips on Which Chart to Use in Excel
6. Wrap Up

What is a Chart in Excel?

Let’s first define a chart before delving into the specifics of how to add one in Excel.

A chart is a graphical representation of data. It aids in the visualization of data in a simple-to-understand format. Excel offers a variety of charts for different types of data.

Best Excel Charts for Data Analysis

The ideal Excel chart to use is dependent on the data under analysis. Insights you hope to get from it also play a role here.

Let’s say you want to analyze sales data over time. A Line Chart would be appropriate as it allows you to see trends and changes over time. Alternatively, a Bar Chart would be more suitable if you want to compare data across different categories.

Another crucial element to consider when selecting a chart type is the number of data points. Let’s assume you have a massive number of data points. A Scatter Plot Chart is effective here since it allows you to observe the dispersion of data points.

Pros and Cons of Creating Charts in Excel

Pros

• Easy to Create

A wide variety of charts are available with just a few mouse clicks in Excel. Creating a chart in Excel doesn’t require you to be a data visualization pro.

• Easy to Customize

You can modify Excel charts to meet your specifications. You can alter the colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand aesthetics.

• Easy to Update

You can quickly update your chart if any of its data changes. Based on the new data, Excel will automatically update the chart. This saves you from having to start from scratch with each update.

• Versatility

Excel charts are versatile. You can put them to a variety of uses, including data analysis and presentation for example a Sunburst chart.

Cons

• Limited Customization Options

Excel offers a variety of customization options; however, there are limitations to what you can accomplish. This necessitates using a third-party application to create a highly customized chart.

• Limited Chart Types

You can access several chart types in Excel, but others are not available. This necessitates utilizing a different tool, such as ChartExpo, if you require a specific chart type. Having said that, every existing chart and graph is available on ChartExpo.

• Limited Interactivity

Excel charts are not very interactive. While you can add some interactivity, such as tooltips, there are limits to what you can do.

How to Add a Chart in Excel?

Are you looking for an easy and efficient way to add charts to your Excel spreadsheets?

Look no further than ChartExpo.

This add-in takes the hassle out of charting in Excel. You can easily add informative charts to your data with only a few clicks. Business owners, marketers, and data analysts can choose from a wide range of chart types including an Area chart, or Multi-Axis graph Excel  ChartExpo offers.

The best part?

Its user-friendly interface allows even beginners to create insightful charts without coding experience.

Benefits of Using ChartExpo

• ChartExpo allows you to create insightful charts, including Circular Charts, without specialized data visualization or coding skills. It has an intuitive UI that makes it easy for anyone to use.
• You can add labels, colors, and annotations to your chart to fit your brand and style. This functionality simplifies making compelling and insightful visualizations.
• ChartExpo provides a cost-effective solution for data visualization, with a free 7-day trial to test its features. After the trial, you can subscribe to the tool’s affordable $10 monthly subscription.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

1. Open your Excel application.
2. Open the worksheet and click the “Insert” menu.
3. You’ll see “My Apps”.
4. In the office Add-ins window, click “Store” and search for ChartExpo on my Apps Store.
5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

ChartExpo charts and graphs are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTA’s to install the tool of your choice and create interactive visualizations in a few clicks in your favorite tool.

Example

Let’s look at the variations of a Radar Chart you can create using ChartExpo.

Radar Chart

A Radar Chart, or a Spider Chart, is a two-dimensional chart representing multidimensional data. It arranges the data to form a spider-web-like shape. Each variable has its axis that starts from the center. It plots the value of each variable along the same axis and joins them together to form a polygon. This chart is ideal for performance analysis.

Example

Let’s say you have the following data for your online store.

Months	Orders Received	Orders Delivered
Jan	300	220
Feb	370	300
Mar	400	350
Apr	450	400
May	270	250
Jun	300	300
Jul	400	250
Aug	500	400
Sep	250	250
Oct	400	380
Nov	200	200
Dec	250	210

As shown below, you can map this data on a Radar Chart to analyze the performance of yearly orders.

Circular Org Chart

A Circular Org Chart, or a Circular Organizational Structure, is a hierarchical structure chart. Senior-level employees occupy the inner rings of a circle, while lower-level employees occupy the outer rings. This structure fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and creativity within the organization.

Example

Assume you have the data scores below for different departments of different teams.

Departments	Teams	Q1 Score	Q2 Score
Finance	Banking	80	73
Finance	Receivable	57	67
Finance	Payable	59	47
Sales	Sales	75	65
Sales	Marketing	70	85
HR	Hiring	85	72
HR	Training	60	70
HR	Compliance	61	66
Operations	Production	85	91
Operations	Logistics	78	68
Operations	CRM	71	63
IT	Network	56	73
IT	Software	87	79

You can observe how a Circular Org Chart presents this data clearly and concisely.

Dual Axis Radar Chart

A Dual Axis Radar Chart facilitates the comparison of two different data sets. It has two radial axes with different scales and units of measurement. This allows you to compare two data sets with different ranges or units.

Example

Let’s say you have the data below on data about orders and market share impact on different products.

Follow through as I show you how to use ChartExpo to create a Dual Axis Radar Chart.

• To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Excel.
• Now Click on My Appsfrom the INSERT menu.

• Choose ChartExpo from My Apps, then click Insert.

• Once ChartExpo is loaded. Click on “Dual Axis Radar Chart” from the charts list.

• Click “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.

• The Dual Axis Radar Chart will look like as below.

• If you want to have the title of chart, click on Edit Chart, as shown in the above image.
• To change the title of the chart, click on the pencil icon that is available very next to Chart Header.
• It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1and enable the  Show Give the appropriate title of your chart and click on Apply button.

• To change the color of the legends, click the small pencil icon. Then select the desired color under Legends Properties and click the “Apply” button.

• Let’s add a percentage sign to the market share values.
• Click the small pencil icon and select the Label option to add the sign. Then click the “Apply All” button.

• To finalize the modifications, click the “Save Changes” button.

• The final chart will look like as below.

Insights

• The filled area or radius displayed above shows the number of orders. The area below represents the market share.
• In comparison to other products, product 4 boasts the highest market share.
• Despite having more orders, product 1 has the same market share as product 5.

Tips on Which Chart to Use in Excel

Choosing the right chart type is crucial to visualize your data effectively. The following are tips on which chart to use in Excel based on the type of data:

• Use a Column Chart to compare data across categories.
• Use a Line Chart to show trends over time.
• Use a Pie Chart to show proportions.
• Use a Bar Chart to compare data across categories.
• Use a Scatter Chart to show the distribution of variables.
• Use a Radar Chart to compare data with multiple variables.

FAQs

What is the most important thing about a chart?

The most important thing about a chart is its ability to convey the relationship between data sets. Consequently, help viewers understand the relationships better than reading blocks of text/numbers.

Tips on which chart to use in Excel?

Choosing the right chart type depends on the following factors;

• The types of metrics or variables to be plotted.
• The intended audience.
• The desired conclusion.

Therefore, you should choose the type of chart to use in Excel based on the factors above.

Can I add interactivity to my chart?

Sure, you can make your chart interactive. This enables you to increase its potency and make it more captivating for your viewers. ChartExpo is the finest tool available for creating interactive charts.

Wrap Up

Excel is a potent tool for managing and analyzing data. Whether you’re working with financial data or sales figures doesn’t matter. Excel can help you make sense of it all.

One of the most valuable features of Excel is its charting ability to represent your data visually. Charts can help you spot trends, identify patterns, and communicate your findings to others clearly and concisely.

We have discussed how to add a chart in Excel and tips on which chart to use. These tips will help you create compelling data visualizations that facilitate insightful decision-making. Remember to always choose the right chart type for your data. Most importantly, keep it simple and easy to understand.

How do you do this?

Use ChartExpo for Excel.

This innovative Excel add-in simplifies the process of chart creation. With ChartExpo, you can create insightful charts with just a few clicks and no advanced Excel skills necessary.

Say goodbye to tedious charting.

Incorporate ChartExpo into your Excel and start creating charts like a pro.