How to Make a Bar Graph in Google Sheets: Step-by-Step Guide

The Problem

You have data in Google Sheets and need to visualize it as a bar graph (bar chart) to better understand trends, compare values, or present information clearly.

The Easy Way: Use SheetXAI

If you don't want to manually create charts, the fastest way is to simply ask SheetXAI.

With SheetXAI, you can open the sidebar and type:

Create a bar graph from the data in columns A and B.

SheetXAI will instantly create the chart for you, format it properly, and place it in your sheet. It handles all the chart settings so you can focus on the insights.

The Manual Way: Step-by-Step Instructions

To create a bar graph manually in Google Sheets, follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Make sure your data is organized in columns:

• Column A: Categories or labels (e.g., Product Names, Months, Regions)
• Column B: Values (e.g., Sales, Revenue, Counts)

Example:

Product A | 150
Product B | 200
Product C | 180

Step 2: Select Your Data

1. Click and drag to select the data range you want to chart
2. Include both the labels and the values
3. You can also select the entire columns if your data continues

Step 3: Insert the Chart

1. Click Insert in the menu bar
2. Select Chart from the dropdown menu
3. Google Sheets will automatically create a chart based on your data

Step 4: Customize the Chart Type

1. The chart editor will appear on the right side
2. Under Chart type, click the dropdown
3. Select Bar chart (or Column chart for vertical bars)
4. Choose the specific bar chart style you prefer:
   • Bar chart: Horizontal bars
   • Column chart: Vertical bars
   • Stacked bar chart: Multiple series stacked
   • 100% stacked bar chart: Stacked bars showing percentages

Step 5: Customize Chart Settings

In the chart editor, you can customize:

Setup Tab:

• Data range: Adjust which cells are included
• X-axis: Choose which column contains your categories
• Series: Add or remove data series

Customize Tab:

• Chart style: Colors, fonts, background
• Chart & axis titles: Add titles and labels
• Legend: Position and style
• Series: Colors for each bar
• Horizontal axis: Category labels
• Vertical axis: Value labels and scale

Step 6: Position Your Chart

1. Click and drag the chart to move it
2. Resize by dragging the corners
3. You can also place it on a separate sheet by clicking the three dots menu → Move to own sheet

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not selecting data correctly: Make sure to include both labels and values
2. Wrong chart type: Bar charts are for comparing categories; use line charts for trends over time
3. Too many categories: Bar charts work best with 5-15 categories; too many make it hard to read
4. Missing labels: Always include axis titles and a chart title for clarity
5. Poor color choices: Use contrasting colors that are easy to distinguish

Tips for Better Bar Graphs

• Use consistent colors: Keep the same color scheme across related charts
• Sort your data: Consider sorting by value (largest to smallest) for easier comparison
• Add data labels: Show exact values on bars for precision
• Limit categories: If you have many categories, consider grouping or using a different visualization
• Use appropriate scales: Make sure your axis scale accurately represents the data

Alternative: Column Chart vs Bar Chart

• Bar chart (horizontal): Better for long category names or many categories
• Column chart (vertical): Better for time-based data or fewer categories

Both use the same creation process—just select the appropriate chart type in Step 4.

Conclusion

Now you know how to create a bar graph in Google Sheets manually. It's a useful skill for data visualization.

But for those times when you want to create multiple charts quickly or automate the process, SheetXAI can generate charts automatically from your data with simple commands.