19 How to Create a Bar Graph in Excel

By Ricardo Beltran

How to Create a Bar Graph in Excel

1. Open Excel
2. Enter the data in the columns (one column for words, one column for numbers
3. Highlight the data
4. Go to “Insert”
5. Click on the bar graph icon
6. Click on “2D’
7. The Bar Graph appears
8. On the right hand side of the graph, a boxed + will appear (as shown below). Click on it
9. A list will appear. Click on axis titles, chart title, data labels (optional) grid lines
10. Type the names of these items in the text box that appears on the graph

Copy the chart to Word

1. Once you finalize your graph, click on it
2. Copy it (control-C, or right click and select copy)
3. Open a Word document
4. Paste the bar graph into the Word document (Control -V, or right click and select paste)
5. Format the figure properly in your chosen citation style, making note of where titles, labels, and captions/notes belong.

_{Fig 1. The data on pet ownership is from a 2021-2022 survey by the American Pet Products Association.}