Charts and visualisations are powerful tools for transforming raw data into meaningful insights. Google Sheets makes it easy to create a wide range of charts, from simple bar graphs to more advanced visualisations like scatter plots and pie charts. This guide will walk you through how to create and customise charts in Google Sheets to better understand and analyse your data.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Charts in Google Sheets
- Organise Your Data
Before creating a chart, ensure your data is well-organised in rows and columns. Each column should represent a different data category, such as “Month,” “Sales,” or “Product Type.” For example:MonthSalesProfitJan1000200Feb1200300Mar1500350Having clear and structured data makes it easier to create accurate and informative charts. - Select the Data Range
To begin creating a chart, you need to select the data you want to visualise:- Click and drag to select the cells containing your data.
- Ensure that both the labels (e.g., “Month,” “Sales”) and the data points are included in the selection.
- Insert a Chart
Once you’ve selected your data, it’s time to insert a chart:- Go to the Insert menu at the top of the screen.Click on Chart. This will insert a default chart into your Google Sheet.
- Choose the Right Chart Type
The default chart type may not always be the best fit for your data. To change the chart type:- Click on the chart to open the Chart Editor on the right-hand side.In the Setup tab, under Chart type, you can choose from a variety of chart types:
- Line Chart: Ideal for showing trends over time, such as sales growth.Bar Chart: Useful for comparing different categories side by side, like product sales across regions.Pie Chart: Best for displaying proportions, such as market share distribution.Scatter Plot: Helps identify relationships between two variables, such as price and sales volume.
- Click on the chart to open the Chart Editor on the right-hand side.In the Setup tab, under Chart type, you can choose from a variety of chart types:
- Customise Your Chart
To make your chart more meaningful and visually appealing, you can customise it in several ways:- Change Axis Labels: In the Chart Editor, go to the Customise tab and click Chart & axis titles. Here, you can edit the chart title, as well as the labels for the X and Y axes.
- Modify Colours and Fonts: Under Series, you can change the colours of the data points, bars, or lines in your chart. You can also adjust font styles, text sizes, and alignment to match your presentation or branding.
- Add Data Labels: If you want the actual values to appear on your chart, go to Series and check the box for Data labels. This makes the chart easier to read at a glance.
- Adjust the Chart Layout
You can adjust the overall layout of your chart to make it easier to interpret:- Legend Position: Move the legend to the top, bottom, or side of the chart to make the most of your available space.
- Gridlines and Ticks: In the Gridlines and ticks section, you can control how many gridlines appear in the background of your chart. Gridlines help viewers understand the scale and compare data points more easily.
Advanced Charting Features in Google Sheets
- Create a Combo Chart
A Combo Chart allows you to combine two different chart types into one, such as a bar chart and a line chart. This is useful when you want to compare two related datasets that have different units of measurement or are best visualised using different chart styles.- To create a combo chart, select Combo Chart from the chart type options in the Chart Editor.
- In the Series section, you can assign one data set to the bars and another to the line, making it easy to compare two variables like revenue and profit.
- Use a Scatter Plot for Correlation Analysis
If you’re trying to identify correlations or relationships between two sets of data, a Scatter Plot is an excellent tool. It displays individual data points and shows trends, such as whether higher prices correlate with higher sales:- Select your data and choose Scatter Plot from the chart options.
- In the Customise tab, you can add a Trendline to the scatter plot, which visually indicates the correlation between the variables.
- Add a Secondary Axis
When your chart compares two data series that have different scales, adding a Secondary Axis can help improve clarity. For example, if you’re charting both website traffic (in thousands) and conversion rates (in percentages), a secondary axis ensures both data sets are accurately represented:- In the Chart Editor, go to Series, select the data series you want to add to the secondary axis, and check the box for Axis > Right axis.
- Embed Dynamic Charts into Reports
You can embed dynamic charts from Google Sheets into presentations or Google Docs, allowing your visualisations to update in real time as your data changes. To do this:- Click on the chart and select the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
- Choose Copy chart.
- Paste it into a Google Doc or Google Slides presentation. The chart will automatically update when the underlying data in your Google Sheet changes.
Visualising Data for Better Insights
Creating charts and visualisations in Google Sheets is a powerful way to turn data into actionable insights. Whether you’re tracking sales trends, analysing survey results, or comparing campaign performance, charts help communicate the story behind the data more effectively. By choosing the right chart type, customising it for clarity, and using advanced features like combo charts and secondary axes, you can transform your raw data into valuable visual insights.
Mastering these techniques will not only make your reports and presentations more impactful but will also help you and your team make data-driven decisions with ease.