7 Excel Chart Types You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Excel offers a wide range of chart types for data visualization. It offers chart types beyond bar, column, line, and pie charts. The lesser-known charts can help you to simplify complex datasets while presenting data in appealing ways. In this article, we will uncover 7 Excel chart types you probably didn’t know existed.

1. Funnel Chart

Funnel charts visualize data through stages, it helps to visualize progressively decreasing sales pipelines, conversion processes, etc.

• Select your data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Funnel Chart.
• Excel will create a chart showing the decreasing stages visually.

This funnel chart displays the flow of leads through the sales stages.

Best to Visualize:

• Sales process stages.
• Website visitor conversion.
• Recruitment process.

2. Treemap Chart

Treemap charts compare values at hierarchical levels. It visualizes data using nested rectangles, where the size of each rectangle is proportional to its value.

• Prepare data with categories and subcategories.
• Select the data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Treemap Chart.

This treemap chart visualizes sales contributions from various product categories.

Best to Visualize:

• Market share by industry and company.
• Company department budgets and sub-budgets.
• File system storage usage.
• Product categories and sales.

3. Sunburst Chart

Sunburst charts visualize data in a circular layout. It shows hierarchical relationships between levels. It also looks like multi-level pie charts. The innermost ring represents the highest level of the hierarchy, with each outer ring showing increasingly explicit breakdowns.

• Arrange data hierarchically.
• Select the data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Sunburst Chart.

This sunburst chart breaks down expenses by department and sub-department. It visualizes expense distribution across departments and sub-departments

Best to Visualize:

• Organizational structures.
• File system hierarchies.
• Product categories and subcategories.
• Website navigation paths.

4. Waterfall Chart

Waterfall charts visualize changes over time. They display how an initial value is affected by a series of positive and negative values. They’re handy for running totals, financial data, and budget analysis.

• Enter data with positive and negative values.
• Select the data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Waterfall Chart.

This waterfall chart shows profit fluctuations over the months. The waterfall chart shows each value “bridges” the gap between starting and ending balances.

Best to Visualize:

• Sequential data like monthly sales, and quarterly profits.
• Financial data such as revenue, expenses, and net income.
• Cumulative data like cash flow, and budget variance.
• Data showing incremental changes like changes in stock prices, project milestones.

5. Box and Whisker Chart

Box and Whisker chart type is used in statistical analysis to show data distribution, variability, and outliers. It displays variation within a set of data.

• Organize your data.
• Select the data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Box and Whisker Chart.

This chart compares exam scores across multiple classes.

Best to Visualize:

• Student test scores across different classes.
• Product performance metrics.
• Salary distributions across departments.

6. Pareto Chart

Pareto charts combine bar and line graphs to highlight the most significant factors in a dataset.

• Sort your data in descending order.
• Select your data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Pareto Chart.

This Pareto chart shows the most common product defects and their cumulative impact.

Best to Visualize:

• Categorical data like product categories, and complaint types.
• Frequency data such as number of occurrences per category.
• Number of defects per item type.

7. Radar Chart

Radar charts also known as spider charts compare multiple variables in a circular format. Each variable has its own axis, extending from the center. Radar charts compare multiple variables relative to a central point, often used to evaluate performance or features.

• Organize your data with categories in rows and measurements in columns.
• Select your data range.
• Go to the Insert tab >> from the Charts group >> select Radar Chart.

This radar chart shows skill evaluations for three employees.

Best to Visualize:

• Skills assessment.
• Performance metrics.
• Product comparison.
• SWOT analysis.

Conclusion

Explore these lesser-known yet effective charts to visualize data more efficiently. These charts will help you enhance the communication of complex data. Remember to choose the perfect chart for perfect visualization. Experiment with them to find the perfect fit based on your dataset.