How to Create Multi-category Charts in Excel

It is possible to create a multi-category chart in Excel (as shown below).

The trick is to arrange the data in a certain way, that makes Excel interpret as having multiple categories.

Suppose I have the data for the monthly expenses I make on the food items (as listed below). The idea to create a chart for these items, and also categorize these as Fruits, Vegetables, and Packaged Food.

Multi-category Charts in Excel

This is no rocket science. All you need is to arrange your data as shown below. Note that I have just added the overall category name (such as Fruit, Vegetable..) in a column on the left of the category name (apple, banana, orange..)

Multi-category Charts in Excel data

If you have the data arranged, as shown above, here are the steps to make this chart:

  1. Select the entire data set.
  2. Go to Insert –> Column –> 2-D Column –> Clustered Column.
    • You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F1 to create a column chart from data.

Multi-category Charts in Excel - Clustered Column Select

  1. That’s it!! You will have your chart. Format it the way you want.

 

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Sumit Bansal
Hello there! I'm Sumit Bansal, founder of trumpexcel.com and an Excel MVP. I started this website in 2013 with a simple goal: to share my love for Excel through easy to follow tips, tutorials and videos. I'm here to help you get the best out of MS Excel to save time and boost your productivity.

4 thoughts on “How to Create Multi-category Charts in Excel”

    • There’s culinary taxonomy and botanical taxonomy. Please don’t put a tomato in my fruit salad.

      Reply

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