Spreadsheet Practice

Lesson 11 of 32, Data tools

Charts: pick the right one

The question you're answering picks the chart. Then select the right cells.

Free9 minutes, 4 exercisesLineColumnPieScatter

Watch it done

4 steps

Watch the technique worked out on sample data, then try it yourself in the exercises.

How it works

Start from what the chart has to show. Change over time: a line chart, with time along the bottom. Comparing categories such as regions or products: a column chart, or a bar chart when the labels are long. Parts of a whole: a pie chart, and only with a few slices. How two numbers relate, such as ad spend and sales: a scatter chart, one dot per row.

Then select the data, header row included. The header becomes the series name and the first column becomes the labels along the axis. Leave out anything that isn't part of the question, like a Total row, which would show up as one more slice or bar. Select two number columns side by side to get two series. Then Insert, and pick the chart type in the Charts group. Recommended Charts shows Excel's suggestions for the cells you selected.

In the practice editor, pick the type and give the data range. Select cells in the sheet and press Use, or type the range.

Syntax

Line: A1:B13Revenue by month, a trend
Column: A1:C6Two years side by side for each region
Pie: A1:B5Each channel's share, without the Total row
Scatter: B1:C13Ad spend against sales, one dot per week

Watch out for

  • A Total row in the range becomes the biggest bar or slice. Leave it out.
  • Without the header row, the series are called "Series1" and the first number can end up as a label.
  • Pie charts stop being readable past five or six slices. Use a bar chart instead.
  • A line chart implies an order, like months. For regions or products, use columns.

The exercises

  1. A year of revenue. Chart how revenue trended across the year. Use the months and revenue in A1:B13, header row included.
  2. This year against last. Compare revenue in 2025 and 2026 for each region in one chart, with the two years side by side. Leave the store count out.
  3. Where tickets come from. Show what share of all support tickets each channel brings in. Chart the four channels, not the Total row.
  4. Does ad spend move sales?. Chart weekly ad spend against sales to see whether bigger spend goes with bigger sales. Use the two number columns, headers included, and leave the week labels out.

A year of revenue

Chart how revenue trended across the year. Use the months and revenue in A1:B13, header row included.

Insert Chart

Chart type

Select cells in the sheet and press Use, or type the range. Include the header row.

Pick a chart type and a data range to see the chart.