Bar graph maker

Paste your categories and values to build a clean, labeled bar graph you can download, with each bar's share of the total worked out.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Step-by-step working
  • Runs in your browser

One category per line: a name, then a comma or tab, then the value. You can paste two columns straight from Excel or Google Sheets, with or without a header row.

How to use the bar graph maker

  1. Enter one category per line: the name, a comma (or tab), then the number. Pasting two columns from a spreadsheet works too, and a header row is detected automatically.
  2. Add a title and axis labels. Include units, such as "Sales ($ thousands)", so the graph stands on its own.
  3. Choose vertical or horizontal bars, and whether to keep your order or sort from largest to smallest.
  4. Click Make bar graph, check the summary and percentages below it, then click Download PNG.

The numbers behind the graph

Each bar's length is proportional to its value, measured from zero. Alongside the graph, the tool works out each category's share of the total and the average across categories:

Share of xi = xiΣx × 100%

Mean = Σxk

xi
The value of one category (one bar)
Σx
The total of all the values
k
The number of categories (bars)

Shares are only shown when every value is zero or positive, since a "share" of a negative total doesn't make sense.

Worked example

A teacher asks 191 students how they prefer to study: flashcards (42), practice tests (65), rereading notes (28), group study (19) and videos (37).

  1. Add up the values
    Σx = 42 + 65 + 28 + 19 + 37 = 191
  2. Share for the tallest bar, practice tests
    65191 × 100% = 34.0%
  3. Share for the shortest bar, group study
    19191 × 100% = 9.9%
  4. Average per category
    Mean = 1915 = 38.2

What it means: practice tests are the most popular method, chosen by about a third of students, and more than three times as many students chose them as chose group study. Click Load example above to see this as a graph, then try sorting it largest first.

How to read and make a good bar graph

  • Compare lengths, not areas. Each bar starts at zero, so a bar twice as long means a value twice as large.
  • Sort when order doesn't matter. Ranking bars from largest to smallest makes the comparison instant. Keep the natural order for things like months, years or age groups.
  • Use one color. When every bar measures the same thing, extra colors add nothing. Use a second color only to highlight one bar you want readers to notice.
  • Go horizontal for long names. Horizontal bars keep labels readable without tilting them.
  • Label the axes with units, and say where the data came from in your caption.
  • Skip 3D effects. They distort bar lengths and make values harder to read.

Want to show how two numeric variables relate instead of comparing categories? Use the scatter plot maker.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a bar graph and a histogram?

A bar graph compares separate categories, such as favorite fruits or sales by region, so the bars have gaps and can be reordered. A histogram shows the distribution of one numeric variable split into ranges (bins), such as test scores from 60-70 and 70-80. Its bars touch, and their order is fixed by the number line.

When should I use a horizontal bar graph?

Use horizontal bars when category names are long, or when you have many categories. The labels stay readable without being rotated. Vertical bars (columns) work well for a handful of short labels, and for categories with a natural order such as years or age groups.

Should the value axis start at zero?

Yes. A bar’s length represents its value, so cutting off the bottom of the axis exaggerates differences and can mislead readers. This bar graph maker always starts the value axis at zero.

How many bars can a bar graph have?

There is no strict limit, but graphs are easiest to read with about 3 to 12 bars. With more categories, sort the bars from largest to smallest, switch to horizontal bars, or group the smallest categories into "Other". This tool accepts up to 100 categories.

How do I make a bar graph in Excel or Google Sheets?

Put category names in one column and values in the next, select both, then choose Insert → Chart → Bar or Column. If you just need a clean image quickly, paste the same two columns into this tool and click Download PNG.

Can I use the graph in my report or presentation?

Yes. The downloaded PNG is high resolution with a white background, ready for Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint or Slides. It’s yours to use; a credit to StatHow is appreciated but not required.

Last reviewed November 10, 2026