How To Create A Column Chart In Google Sheets

How to Make a Clustered Column Chart in Google Sheets

A clustered column chart, or column chart, is used to display a series of two or more data sets in vertical clustered columns. The vertical columns are grouped together, because each data set shares the same axis labels. Clustered Columns are beneficial in directly comparing data sets.

This tutorial will show you how to make and edit a Clustered Column Chart in Google Sheets

How to Make a Column chart in Google Sheets

Step 1: Select the source data you want displayed in the Column chart

Use your mouse to select the data you would like to include in your Column Chart.

Step 1: Select the data you want displayed in the Column chart

Step 2: Click the Insert option on the main menu, and then click the Chart Option from the submenu

Once the data is selected, click in the Insert option from the main menu. Then slect Chart from the submenu that appears.

Step 2: Click the Insert option on the main menu, and then click the Chart Option from the submenu

Once you select the Chart option, a chart will appear on the worksheet and the Chart Editor panel will appear on the right side of the worksheet. The chart type will default to the chart type that Sheets recommends for the data set selected.

A chart will appear on the Worksheet and the Chart Editor panel will appear on the right side of the worksheet

Step 3: Change the Chart type to Column Chart.

Click the Column Chart button from the Chart Editor - Setup Tab, then the chart will appear in the workbook.

Step 3: Change the Chart type to Column Chart

Result: Your Column Chart will appear on your worksheet

You will now see your Column chart appear in your worksheet. Now you can start adding chart elements and formatting to your chart. Continue reading for more details on adding chart elements and chart formatting.

Column Chart

Set Chart Options from the Setup tab on the Chart Editor panel

Step 1: Double-Click on a blank area of the chart to open the Chart Editor Panel

Use the cursor to double-click on a blank area on your chart. Doing this will open the Chart Editor panel.Make sure to click on a blank area in the chart. The border around the entire chart will become highlighted. Once you see the Chart Editor panel appear on the right side of the worksheet, then you know the chart setup and customization features are accessible.

Step 1: Double-Click on a blank area of the chart to open the Chart Editor Panel

Step 2: Click on the Setup tab on the Chart Editor panel

Once the Chart Editor panel is visible, click the Setup tab to access the chart setup options.

Step 2: Click on the Setup tab on the Chart Editor panel

Step 3: Adjust the Setup Options you would like to modify on the Setup tab

Google Sheets has a number of Setup Options available to configure the data elements on your chart or graph.

Here is a list of available Setup options for Column Graphs:

Chart Type
Stacking
Data Range
X-Axis
Series
Switch Rows/Columns
Use Row as Header
Use Column as Label

Step 3: Adjust the Setup Options you would like to modify on the Setup tab

Each of these chart setup options can be formatted in a variety of ways. See the individual feature for available adjustments that can be made.

Customize the Column chart using the Customize tab on the Chart Editor panel.

Step 1: Double-Click on a blank area of the chart to open the Chart Editor Panel

Step 2: Click on the Customization tab on the Chart Editor panel

Once the Chart Editor panel is visible, click the Customization tab to access the chart customization options.

Step 2: Click on the Customization tab on the Chart Editor panel

Step 3: Adjust the Customization Options you would like to modify on the Customization tab

Google Sheets has a number of customization options available to configure the visual display elements on your Column chart or graph.

Click the arrow for the option sub-menu that you would like to edit.

Step 3: Adjust the Customization Options you would like to modify on the Customization tab

Here is a list of available Customization options for Column Graphs:

Chart Style
- Background Color
- Font
- Chart Border Color
- Reset Layout
- Maximize
- 3D
Chart and Axis Titles
- Title Type Selector
- Title Text
- Title Font
- Title Font Size
- Title Format
- Title Text Color
Series
- Series Selector
- Type
- Fill Color
- Fill Opacity
- Line Color
- Line Opacity
- Line Dash Type
- Line Thickness
- Axis
- Format Data Point
Legend

Position
Legend Font
Legend Font Size
Legend Format
Text color

Horizontal Axis
- Label Font
- Label Font Size
- Label Format
- Text Color
- Reverse Axis Order
- Slant Labels
Vertical Axis
- Label Font
- Label Font Size
- Label Format
- Text Color
- Show Axis Line
- Minimum Value
- Maximum Value
- Scale Factor
- Log Scale
- Number Format
Gridlines and Ticks
- Gridline Axis Selector
- Major Spacing Type
- Major Count
- Minor Spcaing Type
- Minor Count
- Major Gridlines
- Gridline Color
- Minor Gridlines
- Major Ticks
- Minor Ticks

Each of these chart elements can be formatted in a variety of ways. Please see our other tutorials on how to add and format each chart element.

Next Topic

How to Make a Line Graph in Google Sheets

Thanks for checking out this tutorial. If you need additional help, you can check out some of our other free Google Sheets Chart Tutorials, or consider taking an Google Sheets class with one of our professional trainers.