How to Make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel With Multiple Data?

Analyzing part-to-whole relationships of key variables within your data is easier said than done. The situation is further made worse with the increase in the size of data.

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

In other words, you need a Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data.

The visualization design can help you display how a variable is divided into smaller sub-variables. Each bar in a Stacked Bar Chart represents the whole. And the segments within the bars represent different parts that contribute to the whole.

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

It turns out you can transform Google Sheets into a reliable tool by installing a particular third-party add-on (we’ll talk about it later in the blog).

In this blog, you’ll learn:

• What is a Stacked Bar Chart?
• How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data?
• How to get started with the Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data?
• Lastly, we’ll recommend the best tool to use to access ready-made Stacked Bar Graphs.

Before we dive right into the how-to guide, let’s define the visualization design.

What is a Stacked Bar Chart?

Definition: The Stacked Bar Chart is essentially an extension of the standard Bar Chart. Each bar in this chart is divided into a number of sub-bars stacked end-to-end.

The Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data is best suited in tracking the trends of key data points over time. Besides, it outperforms other visualization designs in displaying part-to-whole relationships.

Why?

The Stacked Bar Chart is easy to read and interpret. Besides, it can handle bulky data without appearing cluttered. You can leverage the chart to display how the composition of the subcategories change over time.

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be a stressful or time-consuming affair. Keep reading to discover more.

Why do Analysts use the Stacked Bar Chart with Multiple Data?

The key objective of the Stacked Bar Chart is to help you gain insights into the levels of categorical variables in your data.

The chart is plotted for each level of the categorical variable. More so, each bar’s length indicates the value of the variable under study.

Use this chart if your goal is to display the relative composition of key data points. You can also use the Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data to display comparison insights into key data points.

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be a time-consuming or nerve-wracking affair. Keep reading to discover more.

In the next section, we’ll explore the types of Stacked Bar Charts and how you can use them to gain more from your raw data.

Types of Stacked Bar Chart

There’re 3 different types of Stacked Bar Charts with multiple data, namely:

1. Simple Stacked Bars

The Simple Stacked Bar chart places the absolute value of each subcategory after or over the previous one.

You can use the graph to show the absolute value of each subcategory and their totals relative to the aggregate value of the category. Usually, the bars have varying heights or lengths.

Like a typical Bar Chart, the bars in this visualization design can be oriented horizontally (with primary categories on the vertical axis) or vertically (with primary categories on the horizontal axis).

Take a look at the tabular data below. Can you extract meaningful insights by the look of the table?

Locations	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Boston	825	705	421	759
Austin	1026	616	510	678
Miami	641	617	608	392

Now, note the difference after visualizing the data (above).

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

2. Hierarchical Stacked Bar Chart

Suppose variables in your data represent the whole that has been sub-divided into parts across two major categorical variables. In this case, your go-to chart should be the Hierarchical Stacked Bar Chart.

A Hierarchical Stacked Bar Chart is made up of bars split into subcategories. Each of the primary bars may have a similar height but vary within subcategories. The aforementioned makes interpretation of sub-bars easier, especially when comparing multiple categories for in-depth insights.

Take a look at the data below. Can you extract meaningful insights without taking time?

Locations	Brands	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Boston	Mobile	536	399	318	475
Boston	TV	289	306	103	284
Austin	Mobile	680	431	369	509
Austin	TV	346	185	141	169
Miami	Mobile	368	439	230	279
Miami	TV	273	178	378	113

Now, note the difference after visualizing the data (above).

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

The key advantage of a Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data is that you can display subcategories within bars without using extra charts.

Take a look at the data below. Can you tell what’s going on without the aid of a chart?

Locations	Products	Brands	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Boston	Mobile	Samsung	274	219	152	372
Boston	Mobile	Xiaomi	262	180	166	103
Boston	TV	LG	289	306	103	284
Austin	Mobile	Samsung	373	292	210	193
Austin	Mobile	Xiaomi	307	139	159	316
Austin	TV	LG	346	185	141	169
Miami	Mobile	Samsung	219	277	128	110
Miami	Mobile	Xiaomi	149	162	102	169
Miami	TV	LG	273	178	378	113

Note the difference after using a visualization design to display insights into the tabular data (above).

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

3. Percentage Stacked Bar Chart

Each primary bar in a Percentage Stacked Bar is scaled to have the same height. But its subcategories have varying heights depending on their respective numerical values.

Each subcategory with a Percentage Bar Chart adds up to 100%

The similar heights of each primary bar create a baseline at the top of the chart, which eases interpretation.

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be a nerve-wracking affair. Keep reading to discover more.

Visualization Source: ChartExpo

To get the most from the Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data, incorporate high contrasting colors to ease interpretation. Avoid almost similar colors because they may distort the composition of the respective bars. Using a multicolored bar graph helps you to understand data better.

Furthermore, numerical values ​​should be indicated within or above each subcategory to facilitate comparison. But be aware of using these annotations judiciously to avoid visual clutter.

The Best Tool to Use to Generate a Ready-made Stacked Bar Chart

Excel has inbuilt charts you can use to extract insights into your raw data.

However, you’ll never find ready-to-use Stacked Bar Chart with multiple data for your analysis. The most viable option available for you is to download and install a particular third-party add-in to access ready-made Stacked Bar Graphs.

You don’t have to ditch the spreadsheet tool that’s highly familiar to you.

We recommend you try the ChartExpo add-in for Excel because of the reasons listed below.

ChartExpo does not require coding or programming skills, unlike other data visualization tools. More so, it has an ultra-friendly UI for everyone to use.

This tool comes pre-loaded with many advanced charts to offset the missing ones in Excel. Use ChartExpo to produce charts that are incredibly easy to read and understand.

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be time-consuming. Use ChartExpo to overcome this. You’ll learn more about this cutting-edge tool in the next section.

So what is ChartExpo?

ChartExpo comes as an add-in for Excel.

Essentially, it turns your Excel into a reliable data visualization companion capable of delivering hidden insights into your data, irrespective of the size or complexity.

The premium Stacked Bar Chart maker comes with a 7-day free trial.

The key benefit of ChartExpo is that it produces charts that are easy to read and interpret. More so, it allows you to save charts in the world’s most recognized formats, namely PNG and JPG.

ChartExpo is cloud-hosted, which makes it extremely light. You have a 100% guarantee that your computer or Excel won’t be slowed down.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

As we said, how to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be time-intensive. Use ChartExpo as your go-to tool to access ready-made charts for your data stories.

You can directly install ChartExpo in Excel by clicking on the following link “Charts for Microsoft Excel”.

Once it is successfully installed to get started with ChartExpo, follow the steps below.

• Open your Excel (2013 with sp1 or newer).
• Open the worksheet and click the INSERT menu button.
• Click the My Apps and See All buttons, as shown below.

• Click the Insert button to install ChartExpo.

• Log in with your Microsoft account or create a new account by clicking the Create New Account link.
• Enter your newly created account and start using the ChartExpo add-in. You’re only required to log in for the first time.
• Once successfully logged in you will see the list of charts available in ChartExpo add-in.

• You have two options to find the charts and graphs in ChartExpo’s expansive library.
• Option #1: Click the Search button and type the name of the chart you’re looking for.
• Option #2: You can sort the charts based on popularity or name in ascending or descending order and then find them by scrolling down the list.

How to Make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with Multiple Data? Easy-to-Follow Steps?

We’ll visualize the tabular below using a Stacked Bar Chart in ChartExpo.

Locations	Products	Brands	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Boston	Mobile	Samsung	274	219	152	372
Boston	Mobile	Xiaomi	262	180	166	103
Boston	TV	LG	289	306	103	284
Austin	Mobile	Samsung	373	292	210	193
Austin	Mobile	Xiaomi	307	139	159	316
Austin	TV	LG	346	185	141	169
Miami	Mobile	Samsung	219	277	128	110
Miami	Mobile	Xiaomi	149	162	102	169
Miami	TV	LG	273	178	378	113

• Paste the table into your Excel spreadsheet.
• You can find the Stacked Bar Chart in the list of charts and click on it once it appears in the list.

• Select the sheet holding your data and click the Create Chart from Selection, as shown below.

• Check out the final Stacked Bar Chart, as shown below.

How to Edit the Stacked Bar Chart Excel using ChartExpo?

To change the Stacked Bar Chart type, follow the instructions below.

• Click the Settings button, as shown below.
• Once the Chart Setting drop-down pops up, click the Misc button.
• Select either Value Base or Percentage Base in the drop-down.
• Complete the process by clicking the Apply button.

• To change the chart’s legend, click the Edit Chart button, as shown below.

• Once Edit Chart is clicked, you will see different pencil signs on visualization. It means these are editable sections. You can click on the pencil icon on the bar and see the properties to be changed.

• Once the Bar & Label Properties window shows, click either Prefix or Postfix to add your legends.

• Complete the process by clicking the Apply All button.
• After editing the chart, you should have something like this (below).

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data does not have to be time-consuming. Take advantage of ChartExpo to supercharge your Excel today.

Things to Keep in Mind when Using a Stack Bar Chart

• Avoid adding many subcategories because you might end up with a cluttered chart.
• Always start the baseline at 0.
• If one of the categorical variables is related to time (years, months, days, etc.), set it as the main category and plot on the horizontal axis.

FAQs:

How do I create a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data?

Freemium data visualization tools, such as Excel, lacks ready-made and visually appealing Stacked Bar Charts.

You can transform your Excel into a visualization juggernaut by downloading and installing third-party add-ons, such as ChartExpo.

ChartExpo is loaded with all the types of Stacked Bar Charts, plus many other advanced charts.

When should you use a Stacked Bar Chart?

Stacked Bar Charts are best used when showing comparisons between categories. More so, you can leverage the chart to display part-to-whole relationships within your raw data.

If your goal is to show parts of one total, consider other variants, such as a Bar Chart.

Wrap Up

Extracting part-to-whole insights is not a walk in the park.

You need a specialized data visualization chart to extract reliable insights to succeed. In other words, you need a Stacked Bar Chart.

Use a Stacked Bar Chart if your objective is to display hidden insights within subcategories and their relationship to aggregate values in your data.

Excel should not be your go-to visualization tool if you want to leverage the Stacked Bar Chart for in-depth insights. The spreadsheet application lacks ready-to-use and visually appealing charts.

How to make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel with multiple data should never be a complex or overwhelming task.

We recommend you install third-party apps, such as ChartExpo, into your Excel to access ready-made and visually appealing charts.

ChartExpo is an Excel-based add-in with insightful and easy-to-interpret Stacked Bar Charts, plus many more advanced visualization designs.

You actually don’t require programming skills to visualize your data using the tool in your Excel.

Sign up for a 7-day free trial today to access easy-to-interpret, ready-made, and visually appealing Stacked Bar Charts for your data stories.