Using Columns and Bars to Compare Items in Excel Chart

Last Updated : 29 Oct, 2022

A Column chart is a type of chart in which data are shown using vertical bars. In the Column chart, categories are displayed along the horizontal axis(x-axis) and values are on the vertical axis(y-axis). It is useful for the comparison of different types of items of data in a very clear and understandable way. By using Column charts we can easily compare different things among different items of data, and we can justify whether the products/sales/price/etc. of different items are going upward or downward and able to find any relation between them. In a simple way, we can say that vertical charts are known as Column charts.

A Bar chart is a type of chart in which data are shown using horizontal bars. In the Bar chart, categories are displayed along the vertical axis(y-axis) and values are on the horizontal axis(x-axis). It is useful for showing segments of information and comparing different items of data in a more clear way. In a simple way, we can say that horizontal charts are known as Bar charts.

Steps to Compare Items in MS Excel using Columns

Step 1: Let’s Take a set of data, which you will want to compare using a Column chart.

Step 2: Open MS Excel and save it as any name. Let’s say “Compare Items Using Columns”.

Step 3: Write data that you want to compare in a sheet (eg. – write the above data given in Step 1).

Step 4: Select the whole table of data.

Step 5: Go to the “Insert” tab.

Step 6: Go to “Charts” group > Select “Insert Column or Bar Chart” > Choose 2-D Column.

Step 7: Now, data plotted on Excel varies from System to system and Version to Version. In some systems, data are correctly plotted but in some systems, it’s not. So, in case, If Your items are not correctly plotted according to your data, means in the above figure, on the horizontal bar (x-axis) in place of Toys, Shoes, Laptop and Mobile they show that June, July, August, and September. So, you just need to click once on the chart area (Background area of the chart) then Excel itself opens the “Chart Design” tab.

Step 8: Inside the “Chart Design” tab, Choose the “Switch Row/Column” option from “Data” groups to make items correctly plotted. Then it shows Categories (Toys, Shoes, Laptop, Mobile) on the horizontal axis, which is correct.

Step 9: You can give Axis Titles names for better-looking charts, for that you just need to click once on “chart area”(background area of charts) then choose option “Chart Element” and mark the option “Axis Titles”.

Step 10: Rename both horizontal Axis Titles, vertical Axis titles, and Chart titles as items, sales, and Online Summer Sales respectively.

Step 11: You can also choose different styles and colors for a better look at charts, for that just click once on the chart area, and from “Chart styles” choose any styles and colors as per your own choice.

Step 12: At the final, it looks like the image mentioned below.

Steps to Compare Items in MS Excel Using Bars

Step 1: Let’s Take a set of data, which you will want to compare using a Column chart.

Step 2: Select the whole data then go to the insert tab and from the “Charts” group choose “Insert Column or Bar Chart”.

Step 3: From “Charts” group select > “Insert Column or Bar Chart” > Choose 2-D Bar.

Step 4: You can Give the name of Both the Axis and Chart also, for that click once on “Chart Area“(Background area of the charts) then choose “Chart Elements” and select the “Axis Titles“.

Step 5: Rename both axis titles as items and months respectively and chart titles as online summer sales.

Step 6: For a better look at Charts, you can choose different styles and colors, for that, click once on Chart area > choose “Chart Styles” > Select different Styles and Colors.