A bar graph, also known as a bar chart, is one of the most widely used tools for data visualization. It is a simple yet powerful way to present and compare data across categories. Whether you're comparing sales, survey responses, or any data other points, bar graphs make it easy to highlight trends and patterns. Let's take a look at what a bar graph is, the types of data it's best suited for, how to create one, and the best online bar graph makers, including how to use tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and our own Excelkits bar graph maker.

What Is a Bar Graph?

A bar graph is a chart that displays data using rectangular bars. These bars can extend vertically or horizontally, and their length represents the value of the data being plotted. The two axes of a bar graph typically represent the categories (on one axis) and the numerical values (on the other).

Bar graphs are ideal for visualizing and comparing data across different categories, such as comparing sales figures for different products, tracking monthly expenses across different categories, or comparing the population size of different cities. The visual nature of the bars makes it easy to compare values efficiently, helping users quickly understand trends, relationships, and disparities in the data.

Types of Bar Graphs

There are several types of bar graphs, each suited for different data visualization needs:

1. Vertical bar graph (column chart): This is the most common form, with bars extending vertically from the x-axis (categories) to the y-axis (values). It’s ideal for comparing values across multiple categories.
2. Horizontal bar graph: In this version, bars extend horizontally from the y-axis (categories) to the x-axis (values). This format is often preferred when category names are long or when you have many different categories to compare.
3. Double bar graph: This type displays two sets of data side by side, allowing for a direct comparison between two data points within each category. It's commonly used for comparing different groups, like male vs. female responses in a survey, or tracking sales of two products over time.
4. Segmented bar graph (stacked bar chart): A segmented bar graph stacks data values within the same bar, allowing you to see the proportion of each category’s subparts. This is useful for comparing the total and its components within a single category. This could be used for polling data, for example, enabling users to visualize how responses varied across demographic factors like age, gender, income level or geographic location.

What Are Bar Graphs Good For?

Bar graphs are excellent for showcasing categorical data. They work particularly well when you need to:

• Compare data across categories (e.g., sales by product).
• Show time-based changes for different categories.
• Display relationships between multiple groups (e.g., demographic comparisons).
• Visualize survey or poll results.
• Highlight trends in large datasets quickly and easily.

For example, a bar graph can illustrate the number of units sold per product in a specific year, with each bar representing a different product. Similarly, bar graphs can show how customer satisfaction ratings differ between various service locations.

How Do I Create My Own Bar Graph?

Creating a bar graph is more straightforward than you might think, especially when you leverage the digital chart-making tools that you have available at your fingertips. Unlike graphs like Scatter Plots or Bubble Charts, for the majority of bar charts you only need a single data point for each object. Here's how you can get started:

1. Choose a Bar Graph Maker

There are various tools available to create bar graphs, from spreadsheet software like Excel and Google Sheets to online bar graph makers like Excelkits . Excelkits provides a customizable bar graph maker, allowing users to upload data, adjust settings, and create a visually appealing graph without much hassle.

2. Input Your Data

Once you’ve chosen your tool, you need to input the data that you want to present. This typically involves listing your categories and corresponding values, which will be represented by the bars. In Excelkits , you can either enter your data manually, upload a file (such as CSV, XLSX, or Google Sheets), or connect directly to Google Drive to access stored spreadsheets.

3. Customize the Graph

The strength of digital bar graph makers lies in their customizations. Excelkits offers options to customize colors, padding, data labels, and trendlines. You can also adjust the canvas size, making it easy to export high-quality images of your bar graph for reports, presentations, or social media.

4. Visualize and Share

Once you’re satisfied with your bar graph, you can save it in various formats, from PNG to JPEG, and share it with your audience or embed it into presentations and documents.

What is the Best Program for Making a Bar Graph?

There are several tools available for making bar graphs, each with its own strengths. The right tool depends on what you’re looking for. Microsoft Excel is a great option for those working with large datasets who require advanced charting features. Google Sheets is a free online tool that's ideal for collaboration, allowing users to create and share bar graphs easily.

For a straightforward and customizable online tool, Excelkits Bar Graph Maker offers a user-friendly interface, support for various file formats, and customization options to tailor the chart's appearance. It’s free to use, you just need to signup. And the great thing about Excelkits is that you can upload your datasets from whatever program or file they are already stored in and access more comprehensive customization options. You can also use our file picker to select files right from your Google Drive.

How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel

Excel is one of the most popular tools for creating bar graphs. Here are the steps to make a bar graph in Excel.

1. Open Excel and input your data into a table, with categories in one column and values in the adjacent column.
2. Highlight the data, go to the "Insert" tab, and click on the "Bar Chart" option.
3. Choose the type of bar chart you want (e.g., vertical, horizontal, stacked).
4. Customize your chart using Excel's formatting options, such as changing the colors, adding data labels, and adjusting the axis titles.
5. Once complete, you can save, export, or embed your chart.

How to Make a Bar Graph in Google Sheets

Google Sheets is another excellent free tool for making bar graphs. Here are the steps to make a bar graph in Google Sheets.

1. Input your data into a new spreadsheet.
2. Highlight the data and click on "Insert" in the top menu, then choose "Chart" option.
3. Google Sheets will automatically generate a chart. If it's not a bar graph, click on "Chart Type" and select a bar chart from the dropdown menu.
4. Customize the chart as needed, including changing colors, labels, and titles.
5. Share the chart with others or embed it into reports and presentations directly from Google Sheets.

Excelkits: A Powerful Free Bar Graph Maker

At Excelkits , we offer a free bar graph maker that allows users to create stunning, customizable bar graphs online. You can quickly upload data, edit chart elements by clicking on any part of the graph, and add or remove columns. Whether you're working with Excel files, Google Sheets, CSVs, or Numbers, our tool makes it easy to turn raw data into professional charts.

Additionally, our bar graph maker includes features like:

• Customizable colors and padding.
• Data labels and trendlines for a more informative graph.
• Ability to connect to Google Drive for seamless data access.
• Flexible canvas sizing for easy exporting of high-resolution images.

With the free version of Excelkits online bar graph maker, you can easily export a high-quality image of your bar graph, perfect for reports or presentations. However, upgrading to the paid version unlocks even more functionality. You’ll be able to integrate your bar graphs into interactive dashboards or calculators, allowing you to manipulate and visualize data dynamically. This is particularly useful for users looking to provide their audience with real-time, responsive charts, making the upgrade a valuable investment for more advanced data analysis and presentations.