How to Save a Graph from Google Sheets

Saving a chart you’ve carefully crafted in Google Sheets is a simple but essential step for sharing your insights. Whether you need a static image for a report, a live-updating graph in a Google Slides presentation, or an interactive version for your website, Google Sheets offers several flexible options. This guide will walk you through each method, step-by-step, so you can choose the best way to get your chart out of the spreadsheet and in front of your audience.

Download Your Chart as a Static Image (PNG, PDF, or SVG)

The most direct way to save a graph is to download it as an image file. This is perfect for when you need a snapshot of your data to insert into a PowerPoint presentation, a Word document, an email, or a static report. Google Sheets gives you three different file formats to choose from.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Click once on the chart you want to save. This will highlight it with a blue border.

2. Click the three vertical dots (the “More options” menu) in the top-right corner of the chart.

3. In the dropdown menu, hover over “Download.”

4. Select your preferred file format: PNG image, PDF document, or Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG).

The file will immediately download to your computer, ready to be used.

Which File Format Should You Choose?

Not sure whether to pick PNG, PDF, or SVG? Here’s a quick breakdown of what each format is best for:

• PNG (Portable Network Graphics): This is your go-to option for almost any digital use. PNGs are high-quality image files that work perfectly in presentations (Google Slides, PowerPoint), documents (Google Docs, Microsoft Word), and on websites. Crucially, PNGs support transparent backgrounds, which means you can place your chart onto a colored slide or background without a clunky white box around it. For 90% of cases, PNG is the best choice.

• PDF (Portable Document Format): Choose PDF when you need to print your chart or include it in a formal report where preserving exact formatting and scale is important. A PDF will capture your chart precisely as it appears on the screen and is a universally accepted format for documents. It’s ideal for appendices in reports, printable summaries, or when you need to combine multiple charts into a single document.

• SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): SVG is a more advanced option designed for web developers and graphic designers. Unlike PNGs, which are made of pixels, SVGs are made of code (XML). This means they can be scaled to any size - from a tiny icon to a giant billboard - without ever losing quality or becoming blurry. SVGs can also be manipulated with CSS and JavaScript, allowing developers to create animations or interactive elements. Unless you’re a designer or developer, you can likely ignore this option.

Copy and Paste for Linked, Auto-Updating Charts

If you're working within the Google Workspace ecosystem (using Google Docs, Slides, or Drawings), the "Copy chart" function is a complete game-changer. It allows you to create a dynamic link between your chart and its source data in Google Sheets, saving you countless hours on recurring reports.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Click on your chart in Google Sheets to select it.

2. Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the chart.

3. Select “Copy chart” from the dropdown menu.

4. Open your Google Doc or Google Slides presentation.

5. Right-click where you want to place the chart and select "Paste," or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V).

6. A dialog box will pop up with two important options: “Link to spreadsheet” and “Paste unlinked.”

This final choice determines whether your chart will update automatically.

Link to Spreadsheet vs. Paste Unlinked

Link to Spreadsheet (The Smart Choice)

When you choose "Link to spreadsheet," you are creating a live connection. If you later go back to your Google Sheet and the data changes, a small "Update" button will appear on the chart in your Google Doc or Slide. Just click it, and the chart will instantly refresh to show the latest data.

This is incredibly powerful for monthly reports, weekly performance dashboards, or any presentation where data changes frequently. You set it up once, and updating becomes a one-click process instead of repeating the entire copy-and-paste routine.

Paste Unlinked

Selecting "Paste unlinked" simply places a static image of your chart into the document. It’s no different than if you downloaded a PNG and inserted it manually. The chart will not have a connection to your Google Sheet and will not update if the underlying data changes. This option is fine for one-off reports or documents where the data is final, but you lose the time-saving benefits of a linked chart.

Publish to the Web for Embedding Live Charts

What if you want to feature your chart on a website, blog, or company intranet and have it always show the latest data? For this, you need to "Publish chart." This feature generates a unique link or an embed code (an iframe) that displays a live, interactive version of your chart hosted by Google.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select the chart in your Google Sheet.

2. Click the three-dot menu.

3. Select “Publish chart.”

4. A publishing window will appear. Here you can choose to publish just that specific chart.

5. You’ll be given a choice between “Link” or “Embed.”

   • Link: This gives you a public URL that anyone can visit to see a fullscreen version of your chart. It's great for sharing in an email or a messaging app.

   • Embed: This provides an <iframe> code snippet. Copy this code and paste it into the HTML of your website or blog post to display the chart directly on your page.

6. You can also toggle between “Interactive” and “Image” formats. "Interactive" is usually best, as it allows viewers to hover over data points to see specific values. “Image” just publishes a static PNG.

7. Once you're happy with your settings, click the blue "Publish" button and confirm your choice.

Your chart is now live on the internet! It will automatically reflect any changes you make to the source data in Google Sheets, typically updating every five minutes or so.

Other Nifty Ways to Save Your Chart

The primary methods above will cover most situations, but here are a couple of other techniques to keep in your back pocket.

Take a Screenshot (The Quick-and-Dirty Method)

Sometimes you just need to grab an image fast. Taking a screenshot is always an option, though it comes with some downsides like lower image quality and the risk of capturing other parts of your screen.

• On Windows: Press Shift + Windows Key + S to open the Snipping Tool. Drag a box around your chart to copy it to your clipboard.

• On Mac: Press Shift + Command + 4. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair. Drag a box around the chart to save a screenshot to your desktop.

Use this method only when you’re in a hurry and don't need a high-resolution, clean image.

Move to its Own Sheet for a Clean View

If you have a complex spreadsheet with a chart floating over a grid of data, it can be hard to get a clean view for copying or screenshotting. You can move the chart to its own dedicated tab.

1. Click the three-dot menu on your chart.

2. Select "Move to own sheet."

Google Sheets will create a new sheet in your workbook containing a large, cleanly formatted version of your chart on a plain white background. This makes it much easier to frame a perfect screenshot or simply present it without the distracting gridlines behind it.

Final Thoughts

From a simple PNG download for a quick email to publishing a live, auto-updating chart on your company intranet, Google Sheets provides a full suite of tools for saving and sharing your visual data. The right method always comes down to where your audience will see it and whether the data needs to stay fresh over time.

Building charts in Google Sheets is often just one part of a much larger reporting chore - especially when you’re pulling in data from marketing tools, sales platforms, and ad networks. The process of exporting CSVs and manually updating spreadsheets every week to feed these charts can be completely draining. We built Graphed to put an end to that manual work. You can connect all your data sources like Google Analytics, Shopify, Facebook Ads, or HubSpot, and then simply ask for the dashboard you need in plain English. Graphed builds it for you in seconds with real-time data, letting you get straight to making decisions instead of wrangling spreadsheets.