How to Make a Double Bar Graph in Excel

Comparing two sets of data side-by-side is one of the most common tasks in data analysis, and a double bar graph is the perfect tool for the job. Whether you're tracking sales goals versus actuals or comparing performance across marketing channels, this simple chart makes it easy to spot trends and highlight differences. This tutorial will walk you through exactly how to create and customize a double bar graph in Microsoft Excel, step by step.

What a Double Bar Graph Tells You (And When to Use It)

A double bar graph, often called a clustered or grouped bar chart, is a type of chart that uses parallel bars to show a direct comparison between two or more data series across a set of categories. Instead of a single bar for each category, you have a pair (or group) of bars, with each bar representing a different data set.

This type of chart is incredibly useful for visually answering comparative questions. Think of it as the perfect way to display a side-by-side story. Here are a few common scenarios where a double bar graph shines:

• Comparing Performance Over Time: Visualizing this year's sales figures against last year's for each quarter.
• Tracking Goals vs. Actuals: Showing projected revenue next to actual revenue for different product lines.
• Comparing Two Groups: Displaying survey responses for Group A versus Group B across several questions.
• Analyzing A/B Test Results: Comparing conversion rates for two different ad creatives across multiple days.
• Budgeting: Pitting the planned budget against actual spending for various departments.

The key is that you have a common set of categories (e.g., products, months, departments) and two distinct sets of values you want to compare for each of those categories.

Data Prep: Setting Up Your Spreadsheet Correctly

Before you can create a chart in Excel, your data needs to be organized in a way Excel can understand. Proper data structure is the foundation of any good chart, and it will save you a lot of headaches later on. For a double bar graph, you’ll need a simple table with at least three columns.

Let's use an example. Imagine you're a marketing manager for an e-commerce store, and you want to compare website sessions from Google Organic search versus Facebook Ads for the first six months of the year.

Here’s how you should set up your data:

1. Your first column (Column A) should contain your categories. In our example, these are the months: January, February, March, etc.
2. The next two columns (Columns B and C) should contain the two data series you want to compare. We'll put "Google Organic Sessions" in B and "Facebook Ads Sessions" in C.
3. Make sure each column has a clear header. These headers will become the labels in your chart’s legend, so name them descriptively.

Your finished table should look something like this:

Quick Tips for Clean Data:

• No Empty Rows or Columns: Ensure there are no completely blank rows or columns within your data set, as this can confuse Excel when it tries to select the data range.
• Consistent Data Types: Keep numbers as numbers and text as text. Make sure your numeric columns don't have stray text characters.
• Start in Cell A1: While not strictly necessary, starting your data table in the top-left corner of your worksheet (cell A1) is a good practice that keeps things organized.

Creating Your Double Bar Graph: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once your data is neatly arranged, creating the chart takes just a few clicks. Follow these steps to generate your double bar graph.

Step 1: Select Your Data

Click and drag your mouse to highlight the entire data range you prepared, including the column headers and the category labels. In our example, you would select cells A1 through C7. It's important to include the headers so Excel can automatically create a legend for your chart.

Step 2: Go to the 'Insert' Tab

With your data highlighted, look at the ribbon at the top of the Excel window and click on the Insert tab.

Step 3: Locate the Charts Group

On the Insert tab, you'll see a section called "Charts." This is where all of Excel's charting tools live. Look for the icon that looks like a small bar chart, labeled "Insert Column or Bar Chart."

Step 4: Choose the 'Clustered Bar Chart'

Click the "Insert Column or Bar Chart" icon. A dropdown menu will appear with several chart options under 2-D, 3-D, and more. For a standard double bar graph, you want the first option under the "2-D Bar" section, which is called the Clustered Bar Chart.

As soon as you click it, Excel will instantly create and place a double bar graph onto your worksheet! It will use your first column as the vertical axis categories and display the two data series as colored horizontal bars.

Note: You can also choose the "Clustered Column Chart" if you'd prefer your bars to be vertical. The setup process is identical, the only difference is the orientation.

Customizing and Formatting Your Double Bar Graph

Congratulations, you’ve created a basic double bar graph! But the default chart often needs a little polishing to make it clear, professional, and easy to read. Let’s look at the most common customizations.

When you click on your new chart, two new tabs will appear on the ribbon: Chart Design and Format. These are your main control hubs for customization.

1. Adding a Clear and Descriptive Chart Title

A good title tells your audience exactly what they are looking at. The default "Chart Title" isn't helpful. Double-click on the chart title placeholder and type something more descriptive, like "Monthly Website Sessions: Google Organic vs. Facebook Ads."

2. Adding Axis Titles

Your axes need labels to provide context. The months are self-explanatory, but what do the numbers on the bottom axis represent?

• Select your chart.
• Go to the Chart Design tab.
• On the far left, click Add Chart Element.
• Hover over Axis Titles and select Primary Horizontal.
• A text box will appear below the horizontal axis. Type in "Number of Sessions."

3. Adjusting Colors for Clarity

The default colors Excel chooses are often fine, but you might want to match your company's branding or simply use colors that have more contrast.

• Right-click on one of the bars from the series you want to change. Make sure all the bars in that series are selected.
• In the menu that appears, click on Format Data Series... or select the fill icon.
• Here you can select a new Fill color. You can also change the Border of the bars.

4. Adding Data Labels

Sometimes it's helpful to see the exact values directly on the chart instead of estimating from the axis. Data labels add the specific number to each bar.

• Select your chart and go to Chart Design > Add Chart Element.
• Hover over Data Labels and choose a position, such as "Center," "Inside End," or "Outside End." "Outside End" is often the cleanest option if there's enough space.

You can add labels to just one series by clicking on a single bar (wait a second, then click it again to select only that series) before adding the data labels.

5. Refining the Legend

The legend tells the viewer which color corresponds to which data set. Excel usually places it to the right or bottom of the chart. If you want to move it, click Add Chart Element > Legend and select a new position (e.g., "Top").

Pro-Tips for Making Your Graphs More Effective

Creating the chart is half the battle, the other half is making sure it communicates its message effectively.

• Sort Your Data: Before creating the chart, consider sorting your data in a logical order. For categorical data without a natural sequence like months, sorting by one of the values (e.g., from highest to lowest Google Organic Sessions) can make comparisons even more intuitive.
• Keep It Simple: Avoid the temptation to use 3-D effects, busy backgrounds, or unnecessary gridlines. The goal is clarity, not complexity. A clean, simple chart is almost always more powerful.
• Focus on One Story: Use the chart title and any accompanying text to highlight the single most important insight from the data. Is one channel consistently outperforming the other? Did one month see a surprising spike? Guide your reader to the conclusion.
• Adjust Bar Spacing: For a more refined look, you can adjust the gap between your bar clusters. Right-click any bar, select Format Data Series..., and you'll find a slider for "Gap Width." Reducing this ever so slightly can make the chart feel more substantial.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the double bar graph in Excel is a fundamental skill that transforms raw numbers into a compelling visual story. By preparing your data properly and using the built-in customization tools, you can easily create clear, professional charts that compare performance, track progress, and highlight key differences at a glance.

While Excel is fantastic for one-off analyses, a lot of time can still sink into exporting data from different platforms and wrestling it into the right format. At Graphed, we automate this process entirely. You simply connect your data sources - like Google Analytics, Shopify, Facebook Ads, or your CRM - one time. From there, you can ask for a comparison in plain English like "Show me a bar chart comparing traffic from Google versus Facebook for the last six months" and get a live, up-to-date dashboard in seconds. With Graphed , you spend time on insights, not manual report building.