How to Create Stacked Bar Graphs in Excel

Stacked bar graphs are powerful tools for visualizing data that has multiple components adding up to a total. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create effective stacked bar graphs using Excel data.

What is a Stacked Bar Graph?

A stacked bar graph is a type of bar chart that shows how different components contribute to a total. Each bar represents a category, and the segments within the bar show the values of different components.

When to Use Stacked Bar Graphs

Stacked bar graphs are particularly useful when you want to:

Compare total values across categories
Show the composition of each category
Track changes in composition over time
Visualize part-to-whole relationships

Creating a Stacked Bar Graph

Follow these steps to create a stacked bar graph using our Excel Chart Generator:

Prepare your Excel data with appropriate columns for categories and components
Upload your Excel file to our Chart Generator
Select the Stacked Bar Graph option
Customize colors, labels, and other visual elements
Export or share your graph

Best Practices

To create effective stacked bar graphs:

Limit the number of segments to maintain readability
Use contrasting colors for different segments
Order segments consistently across all bars
Include clear labels and a legend

Examples and Use Cases

Here are some common applications of stacked bar graphs:

Sales breakdown by product category and region
Budget allocation across departments
Time spent on different activities
Market share analysis