5 Ways To Create An Excel Floating Bar Chart

In the world of data visualization, charts are an essential tool for presenting complex information in a clear and concise manner. Among the various types of charts available in Excel, the floating bar chart stands out for its ability to effectively display the relationship between different data points. A floating bar chart is a type of chart that displays bars of varying lengths, but without a traditional axis, allowing the focus to be solely on the comparative lengths of the bars. This type of chart is particularly useful when you want to highlight the differences in values without the distraction of a zero baseline.

What is a Floating Bar Chart?

A floating bar chart, also known as a range column chart or an interval chart, is designed to show the high and low values of a range, rather than the traditional starting point of zero. This type of chart is ideal for displaying temperature ranges, stock prices, or any data set where the focus is on the range of values rather than the absolute values.

Why Use a Floating Bar Chart?

Floating bar charts offer several advantages over traditional column or bar charts:

• They emphasize the range of values rather than the absolute values.
• They are effective in showing temperature ranges, stock prices, or any data set where the focus is on the range of values.
• They are visually appealing and easy to understand.

Creating a Floating Bar Chart in Excel

While Excel does not have a built-in option for creating a floating bar chart, there are several workarounds to achieve this. Here are five methods to create a floating bar chart in Excel:

Method 1: Using the Range Column Chart

Excel's range column chart is the closest built-in option to a floating bar chart. To create a range column chart:

1. Select the data range you want to chart.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on the "Column" button in the "Charts" group.
4. Select the "Range Column" chart from the drop-down menu.

Method 2: Using Stacked Bar Charts

Another way to create a floating bar chart is by using stacked bar charts. To create a stacked bar chart:

1. Select the data range you want to chart.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on the "Bar" button in the "Charts" group.
4. Select the "Stacked Bar" chart from the drop-down menu.
5. Format the chart to show the bars as floating by removing the fill color and adding a border.

Method 3: Using Error Bars

Error bars can also be used to create a floating bar chart. To create a floating bar chart using error bars:

1. Select the data range you want to chart.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on the "Column" button in the "Charts" group.
4. Select the "Clustered Column" chart from the drop-down menu.
5. Add error bars to the chart by right-clicking on the data series and selecting "Format Data Series".
6. Set the error bar type to "Custom" and specify the high and low values.

Method 4: Using a Combo Chart

A combo chart can also be used to create a floating bar chart. To create a floating bar chart using a combo chart:

1. Select the data range you want to chart.
2. Go to the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on the "Column" button in the "Charts" group.
4. Select the "Combo" chart from the drop-down menu.
5. Format the chart to show the bars as floating by removing the fill color and adding a border.

Method 5: Using VBA Macros

For more advanced users, VBA macros can be used to create a floating bar chart. To create a floating bar chart using VBA macros:

1. Open the Visual Basic Editor by pressing "Alt + F11" or by navigating to "Developer" tab in the ribbon.

2. Insert a new module by clicking "Insert" > "Module".

3. Paste the following code into the module:

   Sub CreateFloatingBarChart()
       Dim chart As Chart
       Set chart = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddChart.Chart
       chart.ChartType = xlColumnClustered
       chart.SetSourceData Source:=Range("A1:B10")
       chart.Axes(xlCategory).Delete
       chart.Axes(xlValue).Delete
       chart.ChartGroups(1).Overlap = -100
       chart.ChartGroups(1).GapWidth = 100
   End Sub
   

4. Run the macro by clicking "Developer" > "Macros" and selecting the "CreateFloatingBarChart" macro.

Conclusion

Floating bar charts are a great way to visualize data ranges without the distraction of a zero baseline. While Excel does not have a built-in option for creating a floating bar chart, there are several workarounds to achieve this. By using the range column chart, stacked bar charts, error bars, combo charts, or VBA macros, you can create a floating bar chart in Excel. Choose the method that best suits your needs and skills.

We hope you found this article helpful in creating a floating bar chart in Excel. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please leave a comment below.