Create Advanced Charts in Excel Step by Step, by Short and Clear Excel on YouTube. 17 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Lay out your data in clean columns first. For the Gantt chart, put Task, Start Date and End Date in separate columns, then add a Duration column that subtracts Start Date from End Date.
Select the Task and Start Date columns and insert a stacked bar chart. Right-click the first series, choose Format Data Series, and set Fill to No Fill so only the duration bars show.
Add the Duration column as the second series, then reverse the category order in Format Axis so the first task sits at the top. Set the horizontal axis minimum to your project start date.
For sparklines, select an empty cell next to each row of monthly figures. Go to Insert, then Sparklines, pick Line or Column, and set the Data Range to that row.
Turn on the High Point and Low Point markers in the Sparkline tab so peaks and dips stand out. Copy the sparkline cell down the column to cover every row.
Build the gauge from a doughnut chart. Set up helper values that split the ring into coloured bands, insert a doughnut chart, and set the first slice to No Fill to leave the bottom gap.
Add a pie chart on top for the needle, using a single value and a remainder. Format the needle slice in a dark colour and the remainder as No Fill, then align both charts.
For budget vs actual, put Budget and Actual in two columns and insert a clustered column chart. Set Series Overlap to 100% and place one series on the Secondary Axis so the bars sit inside each other.
For the waterfall, select your category and value columns and insert a Waterfall chart from the Insert tab. Right-click any bar and use Set as Total for subtotal rows.
Format each chart the same way: remove gridlines, add a clear title, and use consistent colours. Place the finished charts on one sheet to form your dashboard.
Tips and common mistakes
Dates in Excel must be real date values, not text, or the Gantt axis will not scale correctly.
Keep helper data for the gauge on a separate area or hidden column so the chart stays clean.
If the waterfall option is missing, your Excel version is too old; update to Excel 2016 or later.
Set the same axis scale on budget vs actual charts so the comparison stays honest.
Questions
Do I need any add-ins for these charts?
No. All five visuals use built-in Excel chart types and formatting options. The gauge is made by combining a doughnut chart and a pie chart.
Why does my Gantt chart show bars in the wrong order?
Excel plots the first category at the bottom by default. Tick Categories in reverse order in the Format Axis pane to flip the task list.
Can I use these charts in Excel for Mac?
Yes, sparklines, waterfall charts and the formatting options shown are available in recent Excel for Mac versions. Menu names may differ slightly.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
