How to Make a Chart from Excel Data (Online, Free)
Import an Excel, CSV or OpenDocument file — or paste cells — and turn it into a bar, line, pie, area, scatter, radar, treemap or funnel chart. Free.
3 min read ·
To make a chart from Excel data, open the Chart Maker, press Import CSV or Excel file, and choose your .xlsx, .xls, .csv or .ods file. The first row becomes the column names, the first column the labels, and every further column a data series. Pick a Chart Type, style it, and export PNG, JPG or SVG — or export the data back out as CSV.
Import your spreadsheet step by step
- Tidy the sheet first: put the data on the first sheet, with headings in row 1, labels in column A, and numbers in the columns to the right. Remove totals rows and merged cells.
- Open the Chart Maker.
- Press Import CSV or Excel file and choose the file — .xlsx, .xls, .csv or .ods.
- Check the Data Table; edit any cell directly.
- Choose the Chart Type: bar, line, pie, area, scatter, radar, treemap, funnel, or 3D bar or doughnut.
- Open the settings to set the title, axis labels, legend, colour theme, fonts and 3D effect.
- Download PNG, JPG or SVG, or Export Data (CSV).
How your sheet should look
| Month | Sales | Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1200 | 800 |
| Feb | 1350 | 900 |
| Mar | 1500 | 950 |
- Row 1: column names (they become series names in the legend).
- Column A: labels (months, products, regions).
- Columns B onwards: numbers only — no units in the cells ("1200", not "$1,200 USD"), though simple thousands separators are fine.
Which chart for which data?
- Comparing amounts: bar chart.
- Trends over time: line or area chart.
- Shares of one whole: pie chart (one series).
- Relationship between two numbers: scatter plot.
- Several measures for a few items: radar chart.
- A hierarchy of sizes: treemap.
- Stages that narrow down: funnel.
Pasting instead of importing
Most of the dedicated chart makers take data pasted straight from Excel or Google Sheets — select the cells, copy, and paste into the data box. They give you more control for one chart type:
- The Bar Chart Maker: grouped, stacked, horizontal, sorted bars.
- The Line Chart Maker: smooth lines with gaps for missing data.
- The Pie Chart Maker: slice labels and legend positions.
Common import problems
- Numbers stored as text (green triangles in Excel) may not be read as numbers: convert them with Convert to Number before saving.
- Dates come in as text labels, which is fine for the first column.
- Hidden columns and rows are imported too — delete them rather than hiding.
- Formulas import as their calculated values, as Excel last saved them.
Why make the chart outside Excel?
Excel's charts are powerful, but:
- Consistent styling across a report is quicker with a fixed theme.
- SVG export gives crisp vector charts for print and design tools.
- No Excel needed — on a Chromebook, a phone, or a borrowed computer.
- Google Sheets users get extra chart types and styling.
Privacy
The file is read in your browser; your spreadsheet isn't uploaded. Only the first sheet is used.
Frequently asked questions
Which sheet is imported?
The first sheet in the workbook. Move the data there, or save just that sheet as CSV.
Why are some values missing?
Cells with text instead of numbers (such as "n/a" or units) can't be plotted. Clean them in the Data Table.
Can I import from Google Sheets?
Use File › Download › Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) or CSV, then import — or copy the cells and paste them into one of the chart makers.