How to Make a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel?

Comparing key variables within your data is easier said than done. The situation is further made worse with the increase in data size.

You need a chart that’s primarily designed to help show comparison insights between key data points without clutter. Tables are not recommended, especially if the size of your data is enormous.

In other words, you need a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel.

The visualization design can help you display how a variable compares to others. Besides, it uses different color shades to bring out comparison insights.

Data visualization tools, such as Excel, come with pretty basic Multicolored Bar Graphs. Essentially, you have to perform multiple customizations, which takes time.

You can transform Excel into a reliable tool by installing a particular third-party add-in (we’ll talk about it later in the blog).

In this blog, you’ll discover the following:

• How to Make a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel?
• What is a Multicolored Bar Graph, and why do we use it?
• Lastly, we’ll recommend the best tool to use to access ready-made Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel

Before jumping right into the how-to guide, let’s address the following question: what is a Multicolored Bar Chart and why do we use it?

What is a Multicolored Bar Chart, and Why Do We Use It?

The Multicolored Bar Graph is a chart that uses a combination of contrasting colors and bars to display insights into data. Like a typical Bar Graph, the visualization design is easy to decode.

Just check at the variation in sizes of bars and distribution of contrasting colors.

You can use a Multicolored Bar Graph to compare key metrics across various categories in data. For instance, the chart above is displaying insights into the sales performance of different car brands relative to current versus previous periods.

If you are fond of unique and beautiful visualization then the ChartExpo library is best to use in Excel and you can have multiple bar charts with multicolor options. Few are listed below:

• Sentiment Trend Chart
• Stacked Bar Chart
• Comparison Bar Chart
• Double Bar Chart
• Progress Bar Chart
• Likert Bar Chart / Likert Chart

Let’s check the aforementioned charts in detail.

• Sentiment Trend Chart

A Sentiment Trend Chart uses a combination of lines and bars to display comparison insights into key data points. The green-colored bars depict the current year while the blue ones show the previous year.

The Line on Chart shows the overall pattern and trend of the key variables under study.

• Stacked Bar Chart

A Stacked Bar Chart also known as a Segmented Bar Chart displays insights into data points by showing one another.

Blue, orange, green, and red, all in one visualization to present different data. This visualization doesn’t end here with colors more you have values more colors will be added to it.

• Comparison Bar Chart

Comparison Bar Chart is a very good example if you are interested to have multicolored visualization for your data set. Your data perfectly shows insights by having side-by-side comparisons.

• Double Bar Graph

A Double Bar Graph uses a combination of bars and contrasting colors to display comparison insights into two varying metrics. The visualization design is divided into two, each side representing a different metric.

For instance, the chart above displays the performance of two key metrics (sales and profit margin) relative to key categories in data (different products in inventory).

• Progress Bar Chart

Progress Bar Chart is another example of perfect multicolored used in a single visualization. This visualization is helpful if you compare data and also look for the difference as well. If the difference is positive it will show in green color, if the difference will be negative it will show in red. Although you can use any color of your choice to present your data.

• Likert Bar Chart/Likert Chart

If you are from the field of survey analysis then you should not ignore the Likert Scale Chart.

In a single presentation, you can have an overall idea about the feedback received along with the questionnaires, and each rating is uniquely presented with different colors. Red of course is presenting a negative or bad rating whereas gray is neutral and green is positive. If you look into the detail of this visualization by exploring in add-in then you can change the colors according to your need.

How to make a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel should never consume a significant amount of your time. Keep reading to discover more.

How to Make a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel? Easy-to-follow Steps

Excel does not natively support some of the Multicolored Bar Graph variants. In other words, one of the options available to you is plotting the graph manually, which is incredibly time-intensive.

You don’t have to undergo all this. 

Download and install a particular third-party add-in into your Excel to access ready-made Multicolored Bar Graphs.

There are thousands of add-ins purposely designed for Excel. To simplify things, we tested over 30 data visualization-based add-ins.

We narrowed down our results based on the following factors:

• Ease of use, cost of access
• Quality of visualization chart
• The size of the chart library

The Excel add-in that met all our conditions is ChartExpo.

The tool comes with ready-made charts that need minimum editing.

Let’s take a closer look at ChartExpo.

ChartExpo is an Excel add-in with an ultra-friendly user interface to ensure that any professional can visualize data, irrespective of their coding or programming skills.

Example

This section will use a Double Bar Chart (a variant of Multicolored Bar Graphs) in ChartExpo to display insights into the table below.

Products	Sales	Growth
Headphone	7000	4.2
Laptops	7606	7.6
Mobile	7895	3.8
Mic	8242	4.4
Speakers	8327	0.7
Monitors	8768	5.3
Desktop PCs	9337	6.5

Install the ChartExpo into your Excel by clicking this link to get started.

• Open your Excel and paste the table above.
• Open the worksheet and click the Insert menu button.
• Click the My Apps button and then click the See All, as shown below.

• Click the Insert button to get started with ChartExpo.

• Click the Search Box and type “Double Bar Graph”.

• Once the Chart pops up, click on its icon to get started, as shown below.
• Select the sheet holding your data and click the “Create Chart from Selection”.

• Check out the final Double Bar Chart below.

How to make a Multicolored Bar Graph in Excel should never be a complex and time-intensive task.

Advantages of using a Multicolored Bar Graph

• You can use a Multicolored Bar Chart to compare the performance of key metrics.
• The chart is incredibly easy to read and decode, even for non-technical audiences.
• Aesthetically appears professional while presenting to stakeholders.

FAQs:

What is a Multicolored Bar Graph used for?

The Multicolored Bar Graph is a chart that uses a combination of contrasting colors and bars to display insights into data. Like a typical Bar Graph, the visualization design is amazingly easy to decode.

You can use the chart to compare the performance of varying metrics in your data.

What is the purpose of color on a Stacked Bar Chart?

A Stacked Bar uses contrasting color shades to bring out comparison insights into varying data points. The colors should be contrasted to emphasize the differences.

In other words, the chart uses varying colors to display insights into variables across totals.

Wrap Up

Comparing key variables within your data is easier said than done. The situation is further made worse with the increase in data size.

You need a chart that’s primarily designed to help show comparison insights between key data points without clutter. Tables are not recommended, especially if the size of your data is enormous.

We recommend installing third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, in Excel to access ready-to-use Multicolored Bar Charts.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access ready-made Multicolored Bar Graphs that are easy to interpret and visually appealing to your target audience.