Bar charts are one of the most common and effective ways to represent categorical data visually. Whether you’re working on a school project, a business report, or a scientific presentation, making a bar chart helps you compare quantities across different categories at a glance.
In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn how to make a bar chart step by step, choose the right tools, and apply best practices for clear and accurate data visualization.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Bar Chart?
- Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Bar Chart
- Example: Bar Chart in Google Sheets
- Best Practices for Making a Bar Chart
- When to Use a Bar Chart
- Common Mistakes to Avoid when Making a Bar Chart
- Final Thoughts on Making a Bar Chart
What Is a Bar Chart?
A bar chart (or bar graph) displays data using rectangular bars, where the length of each bar represents the value of a specific category. The bars can be vertical or horizontal, and the data is typically plotted along two axes:
- X-axis: Represents categories
- Y-axis: Represents values or frequency
Below is an image of a more complex bar chart that has multiple groups of bars. In this article we make a simple bar chart from a much simpler dataset.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Bar Chart
Creating a bar chart is simple once you understand the basic process. Whether you’re visualizing survey results, sales numbers, or comparisons between groups, following a clear set of steps will help you build an effective and accurate chart.
Below is a step-by-step guide to making a bar chart—from collecting your data to styling your final graph for clarity and impact. These are the basic steps to take with any graphing software. A practical example follows that uses Google sheets.
1. Collect Your Data
Start with organized data that can be grouped into categories. For example:
| Fruit | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Apples | 50 |
| Bananas | 30 |
| Oranges | 40 |
| Grapes | 20 |
2. Choose a Graphing Tool
You can use various tools to make bar charts, including:
- Excel or Google Sheets (for simple data sets)
- Desmos (good for math-related charts)
- Python with libraries like
matplotlib(for more control) - Online chart makers like Canva, Meta-Chart, or ChartGo
3. Plot the Data
Using your chosen tool:
- Label the X-axis with categories (e.g., fruits)
- Label the Y-axis with numerical values
- Draw one bar for each category, scaling the height (or length) based on quantity
The above steps are done for you automatically when using a spreadsheet, such as Excel or Google Sheets. It is just a matter of entering the data into the spreadsheet, for example from the above example table, and then inserting a graph, and choosing the graph type.
4. Style the Chart
Style the chart to make it easy to read and clear to understand.
- Use consistent colors
- Add axis titles and chart title
- Include labels or a legend if necessary
- Avoid unnecessary 3D effects or clutter
Example: Bar Chart in Google Sheets
To use Google Sheets, you just need a Google account which most people have anyway. Log in to your Google account from a web browser and then go to Google Sheets.
- Enter your data in two columns: one for categories, one for values
- Highlight the data
- Click Insert > Chart using the top menu
- Choose Column chart as the chart type using the Chart type drop-down box at the right of the screen (selecting Bar chart in Google Sheets draws a horizontal bar chart, rather than a vertical bar chart)
- Customize colors, axis labels, and title by clicking on any of these elements in the bar chart and changing its properties in the right Chart editor. You may need to initially double-click an item to get the chart into edit mode.
This is the same example table from near the top of this article. It is used to demonstrate how to make a bar chart in Google Sheets.
| Fruit | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Apples | 50 |
| Bananas | 30 |
| Oranges | 40 |
| Grapes | 20 |
The following image shows the completed bar chart that was made in Google Sheets using the data from the above table with fruit and quantity columns. As can be seen in the image, the data was first entered into the spreadsheet. Be sure to select all the columns and rows, including the headers, before inserting the graph.
Best Practices for Making a Bar Chart
- Limit the number of categories (5–10 is ideal)
- Sort bars in a logical order (ascending, descending, or categorical)
- Use contrasting colors for better readability
- Always label your axes and units
When to Use a Bar Chart
Use a bar chart when you want to:
- Compare values across categories
- Show frequency or counts
- Highlight differences between groups
- Visualize survey results or poll data
Bar charts are not ideal for showing trends over time (line charts work better for that).
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Making a Bar Chart
- Using 3D bars that distort perception
- Forgetting axis labels
- Overloading the chart with too many bars
- Choosing colors that are hard to distinguish
Final Thoughts on Making a Bar Chart
Making a bar chart is a simple but powerful way to communicate data. By following a clear process and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create charts that are easy to understand and visually effective.
Whether you’re using a spreadsheet, an online tool, or coding your charts in Python, the key is to keep your data clean, your visuals simple, and your message clear.
For examples of different types of graphs and charts, you may be interested in our graph types and chart examples category.