how to make a stacked bar chart in excel / Step-by-step workflow
How to Make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel Step by Step
Select a table with one category column and multiple numeric series columns, then use Insert > Bar Chart > Stacked Bar in Excel.
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Step 1: Structure your Excel table
Put category names in the first column and each stacked segment in its own column. The headers become the legend labels.
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Step 2: Select the complete data range
Include the header row and all numeric columns. Do not select totals if you do not want Excel to draw them as another segment.
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Step 3: Insert a stacked bar chart
Choose Insert, open the bar or column chart menu, then select stacked bar or stacked column.
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Step 4: Switch to 100% stacked if needed
Use a 100% stacked bar chart when you want to compare percentage composition instead of raw totals.
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Step 5: Clean up the chart
If labels are long, use horizontal stacked bars. Sort categories, simplify the legend, and remove tiny segments that make the chart hard to read.
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Step 6: Check the legend and axis labels
Make sure the legend uses the segment names from your header row and the axis shows the category names from the first column. If they are swapped, use Switch Row/Column or reselect the source data.
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Step 7: Preview the same data outside Excel
If the chart will be used online, copy the table into the bar chart maker or export it as CSV. This helps catch text values, extra total columns, and labels that are too long for web layouts.
Copyable data
Use this starter table
Paste this into a spreadsheet or preview it in the chart tool before styling.
department,Software,Services,Training
Marketing,12000,6000,2500
Sales,18000,9000,3500
Support,8000,14000,5000FAQ
Should I use stacked bar or stacked column in Excel?
Use stacked bar for long labels and ranked categories. Use stacked column when the x-axis order is short and easy to scan.
How do I make a stacked bar graph in Excel?
Use the same steps: select the category and series columns, then choose Insert > Bar Chart > Stacked Bar. Many people use bar chart and bar graph interchangeably.
How do I create a stacked bar chart in Excel?
Select the category and value columns, go to Insert, choose the bar chart menu, and pick a stacked bar option. Keep the header row selected so Excel can build the legend.
Why should I not include the total column?
If you include a total column, Excel may treat the total as another stacked segment. Select only the component columns unless the total is meant to be plotted separately.
Why are my stacked bars hard to read?
There may be too many segments, labels may be too long, or tiny segments may need to be grouped into an Other category.
Can I make a 100% stacked bar chart in Excel?
Yes. Choose the 100% stacked option when you want each bar to show percent composition.
Last updated: 2026-07-15