How many types of charts are there in Excel? Pick the one that best fits!

Microsoft Excel is one of the most used software around the world and it is present in the best companies nowadays. One of the main features utilized by their users is the one that allows all data to be easily analyzed and seen: Excel charts.

The charts make it possible to extract information about processes, products, or services that, before, were not visible by the company and that become the input of strategic actions to be implemented.

In this way, Microsoft Excel has different kinds of charts for their users to pick the one that best fits their dashboards.

However, to really make the data visualization easier and allow drawing the right conclusions, it is necessary to choose it well and to know what are the chart options available to you.

Do you want to find out what are the best types of charts and their uses? So keep reading this article and check out the 16 most used charts in Microsoft Excel!

1- Grouped Column Chart

The Grouped Column Charts are useful to display alternating data over a period of time or to illustrate comparisons between items, especially across distinct categories.

It is interesting using them for a range of values, such as counting items or for showing specific scales as “strongly agree” or “partially agree”, etc.

Also, it is best suited for cases where the variables do not have a predetermined order, such as the name of countries or people.

2- Stacked Column Charts

Stacked Column Charts are the right kind of chart for showing the relationship between individual items to the whole, comparing the contribution of each value for total cross categories.

It has as an advantage the comparisons of several series without losing the idea of the whole.

3- 100% Stacked Column Charts

100% Stacked Column Charts compares the contribution of each value for a whole between categories, in percentage.

This type of chart represents the contribution percentage for each category, the total is always equal to 100%.

4- 3D Column Charts

The 3D Column Charts has three axes that can be modified and compares the data along the horizontal and depth axis.

It allows the user to visualize several series in different levels for a complete analysis.

5- Line Chart

They are charts that can display continuous data over time, defined against the same scale. For this reason, Line Charts are ideal for showing data trends or their evolution along with historical series.

As the line charts are the best choice when there are multiple series, but if the graphic has only one type of data, a Scatter Graph is probably a better option.

6- Scatter Chart

Scatter Plots show the relation between numeric values in several data strings or display two groups using horizontal and vertical axis coordinates. They are mostly used to show and compare numeric values, from lines or markers.

This type of graphic is ideal for situations where you want to change the scale on the horizontal axis or convert it to a logarithmic scale. It is also useful in cases where the X-axis values are not equally spaced and there are data points.

The Scatter Charts should be used whenever your goal is showing similarities between large data sets, rather than differences across data points, as well as comparing several points of data without worrying about the time.

7- Pie Charts

Pie Charts show the size of items in a data series proportional to the sum of all items. It allows the users to visualize how much is a “slice” in comparison with the whole, as a 100% percentage.

This kind of chart is the better option when there is only one data series and when the values are all positives or zeros.

Avoid choosing the Pie Chart when the analysis is more than seven categories because in this case, the data visualization and understanding will be harder.

8- Pie Bar Chart

They show pie charts, with user’s defined values, taken from the main pie chart and put those values in a secondary pie chart, or a stacked column chart.

The idea is to explain in more detail the result of one pie chart slice, showing subcategories and specific data related to that item.

Are you enjoying this content? If you are taking your first steps in Excel right now, we have a special gift for you!

How to take the first steps in excel?

Several times we get lost in so many Excel functions, and we don't know where to start and what to learn. To help you, we created the First Steps eBook in Excel to guide your practice with the tool, as well as how and where to learn about its most complex resources. Learn how to solve everyday problems quickly and efficiently in Excel.

By downloading our eBook, you will learn the first steps to create your spreadsheets and use their basic and essential functions.

Let's get started?

9- Bar Charts

This is a chart used to compare individual data, just like the column charts. The Bar Charts can be of the following types:

• Grouped Bar Charts
• Stacked Bar Charts
• 100% Stacked Bar Charts

They are the better option to compare data, along the time, and in cases where the data labels are long.

10- Area Chart

Area Charts highlight the changing magnitude over time and can be used for showing the total value along a trend.

They are ideal when you wish to show an evolution, stressing the valleys and peaks in the data series.

This type of chart data can also be represented by stacked area charts and 100% stacked column charts.

11- Stock Charts

As its name suggests, this kind of chart is mostly used to illustrate the changes in the stock market.

The types of stock charts are:

• High Low Close
• Open High Low Close
• Volume High Low Close
• Volume Open High Low Close

source: extendOffice

12- Donut Chart

Just like a pizza chart, it shows the relation of each part as a whole, but the biggest difference is that it can contain more than one data series.

However, it is important to remember that this type of chart can be difficult to analyze. A stacked column chart or stacked bar chart are usually better options, as they allow better visualization.

13- Bubble Chart

The Bubble Charts compare sets of three values, instead of two. The third one determines the size of the bubble marker.

This kind of chart is similar to the scatter plots, the difference is that in the bubble chart a third column is added to specify the bubble’s sizes.

It gives the localization idea on the X and Y axes, as well as a notion about the magnitude of data. Many HR teams use the bubble chart in their presentations.

14- Radar Chart

Radar charts compare aggregated values from data series, the display changes in the values relating them with a central point.

It is another example of a chart widely used by the HR department, especially for showing personal skills.

15- Histogram Chart

Histogram Charts display the frequencies of certain kinds of data within a distribution. Each column is called a compartment and can be changed to add a chart element when necessary.

The Pareto chart is a type of histogram. The difference is that the columns are organized in descending order and there is a line that shows the total cumulative percentage.

This is a recommended chart to identify the root of a problem, as it allows the user to see, for example, which product has the greatest number of errors, defects, or any other variable of interest.

16- Boxplot chart

The Boxplot Chart presents the data distribution in quartiles, showing the average and the exceptions (outliers).

Each box can have vertical lines going through the box which are called “whiskers”. These lines appear in cases where there is a variability outside the upper and lower quartiles.

The Boxplot Chart is useful when there are several data sets related to each other in some way. It is a perfect chart style when you want to display the data distribution visually or identify outliers.

source: eduCBA

After all, this conversation about rows and columns saw how there are lots of chart options, isn’t it? If you want to have Excel as a differential for a selection process, you also need to learn how to create each one! For this, we have the right solution for you!

How to start my journey in Excel?

Are you tired of missing out on incredible career opportunities because you don't know about the main Excel tools?

So you are in the right place! In the Excel for Beginners course, you will learn to work with data in an agile way.

In addition, the course is available for FREE, just click on the banner button below and embark on this journey of knowledge!