How to Make a Graph In Google Sheets

May 24, 2022

A Google Sheets spreadsheet packed with detailed data can be hard to read and understand. If you are using Sheets or submitting a Google Docs presentation, including graphs within your spreadsheet is a great way to help you show information more visually appealingly, especially if you are showing information on your phone via one of the Google apps.

This article will take you through how you can turn any data points into a clear and concise graph in google sheets so your audience can understand what you are trying to show them. Explore our 100+ Time-Saving Templates

Include a Chart in Your Google Sheets Spreadsheet

You can create various graphs or charts in Google Sheets, such as bar charts, pie charts, and other popular charts, as well as radar charts or candlestick charts. To begin, open up a Google Sheets spreadsheet and choose the data you want to include in your graph. Select Insert, then Chart, and build your Chart. To amend your Chart's appearance, open up the Chart Editor tool.

Amend Chart Type Using the Chart Editor Tool

If you want to amend the chart type you have in your spreadsheet, you can do so through the Chart Editor tool. If you don't see this option available automatically, click on your Chart twice to show the menu. Select a different chart or graph from Chart Type from the Setup tab. Different chart and graph types are grouped. Select one of the choices to amend your chart type into something like a line chart or bar graph.

Include Chart and Axis Titles

For example, a freshly created chart in Google Sheets will try to gather titles from your selected cells. Use the Chart Edit tool to change your headers on the x and y-axis once the Chart has been created, and add axis title text where needed. Select the "Customize" tab and "Chart and Axis Titles" to start.

Customize Chart Titles

Once you are in the "Chart and Axis Titles" section, whether for a bar graph or a pie chart, you can customize your chart title text. The "Chart and Axis Titles" sub-menu will automatically put you onto editing your chart title first, regardless of whether you are in the Google Sheets app or Chrome browser. If this doesn't happen for whatever, click Chart to get started. You can edit the title for your chart data and change it to anything you want under the "Title Text" box. Once you have stopped typing, you will notice the changes are made automatically under your pie charts or bar charts. You can change your text's Google Sheet font, formatting, or size. You can find these options below the "Title Text" box, similar to how you would see them in a Google Docs sheet.

Adding More Axis Titles

Individual chart axis titles are not included in the default Google Sheets set. If you wish to add further axis titles for a more transparent display of your date range, you can do that from the same drop-down menu. This works exceptionally well for a bar graph or bar chart. Select the drop-down menu and choose "Horizontal Axis Title" to include a new title on the Y-axis or "Vertical Axis" for a title on the X-axis.

Change Chart Fonts, Colors, and Style

You will find further formatting options for your graph type or Chart from the Customize tab within the Chart Editor tool. You can change fonts, style, and colors within your Chart from within the "Chart Style" menu. You can pick different fonts, background colors, or chart border colors from this menu until you are happy with your updated Chart or graph. This can also be done on your phone when you tap edit chart and amend your document to highlight each data point perfectly.