how to make a stacked bar chart in excel / Step-by-step workflow
How to Make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel
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.
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.
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.
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: 2026-07-06