Create a PivotChart in Excel- Instructions and Tutorial

Create a PivotChart in Excel: Overview

            You can create a PivotChart in Excel to show the data from an associated PivotTable in a graphic format. You can create a PivotChart in Excel either independently from or along with an associated PivotTable in Excel. Alternatively, you can also add a PivotChart to an existing PivotTable if you didn’t create one when you initially created the PivotTable. After adding a PivotChart, you can then manipulate it the same way you manipulate PivotTable data.

            One way to create a PivotChart in Excel is to click the “Insert” tab within the Ribbon. Then click the “PivotChart” drop-down button within the “Charts” button group. Then select “PivotChart” to insert only a PivotChart or select “PivotChart & PivotTable” to insert both objects. Excel then launches the “Create PivotChart” dialog box. You use this dialog box the same way as you use the “Create PivotTable” dialog box to manually create a PivotTable. Please watch the following video lesson, titled “Manually Creating a PivotTable,” to review this process, if needed.

Create a PivotChart in Excel: A video lesson that shows how to manually create a PivotTable in Excel and use the “Create PivotTable” dialog box.

            After making your choices within the “Create PivotChart” dialog box, click the “OK” button to continue. Excel then inserts a PivotChart, and possibly an accompanying PivotTable, into the workbook location you selected.

            Then add fields from your data source to the various areas within the PivotChart or PivotTable. If you inserted both objects, note that data added or changed within one is also reflected in the other. When you select the PivotChart, you can add data fields into the quadrants shown within the “PivotChart Fields” task pane. This task pane functions the same way that the “PivotTable Fields” task pane does. The quadrants are: “Filters,” “Legend (Series),” “Axis (Categories),” and “Values.”

Create a PivotChart in Excel: A picture of a user adding fields to the “PivotChart Fields” task pane in Excel.

            You can also add a PivotChart to an existing PivotTable within Excel. To do this, simply click into any cell within the PivotTable to which you want to add an accompanying PivotChart. Then click the “PivotChart” button within the “Charts” button group on the “Insert” tab within the Ribbon.

            Excel then displays the “Insert Chart” dialog box. Here you select the chart type and specific subtype to use for your PivotChart. Then click the “OK” button to insert the selected chart into the worksheet. Then use the “PivotTable Fields” task pane to manipulate the PivotChart and its associated PivotTable.

Create a PivotChart in Excel: Instructions

1. To create a PivotChart in Excel, click the “Insert” tab within the Ribbon.
2. Then click the “PivotChart” drop-down button within the “Charts” button group.
3. To only create a PivotChart in Excel, select “PivotChart” from the drop-down menu.
4. To create both a PivotChart and PivotTable, select “PivotChart & PivotTable” from the drop-down menu.
5. Excel then launches the “Create PivotChart” dialog box, which is the same as the “Create PivotTable” dialog box, and which you use the same way.
6. After making your choices within the “Create PivotChart” dialog box, then click the “OK” button to continue.
7. Excel then inserts a PivotChart, and possibly an accompanying PivotTable, into the workbook location you selected.
8. Then add fields from your data source to the various areas within the PivotChart or the PivotTable.
9. If you insert both objects, adding or changing data within one also makes it appear in the other.
10. When you select the PivotChart, you can add data fields into the quadrants shown within the “PivotChart Fields” task pane.
11. This task pane functions the same way that the “PivotTable Fields” task pane does. The quadrants are: “Filters,” “Legend (Series),” “Axis (Categories),” and “Values.”
12. To add a PivotChart in Excel to an existing PivotTable, click into any cell within the PivotTable to which you want to add an accompanying PivotChart.
13. Click the “PivotChart” button within the “Charts” button group on the “Insert” tab within the Ribbon.
14. Select the chart type and specific subtype to use for your PivotChart in the “Insert Chart” dialog box.
15. Then click the “OK” button.
16. Use the “PivotTable Fields” task pane to manipulate the PivotChart and its associated PivotTable.

Create a PivotChart in Excel: Video Lesson

            The following video lesson, titled “Creating a PivotChart,” shows how to create a PivotChart in Excel. This video lesson is from our complete Excel tutorial, titled “Mastering Excel Made Easy v.2019 and 365.”