Sometimes, we feel the necessity of adding a horizontal line to visualize the difference more clearly in a bar chart. The horizontal line could be a forecasting value, an average value, or a median value. In this article, I am going to explain 3 easy ways to add a horizontal line to an Excel Bar chart.
1. Adding Forecasting Horizontal Line to Excel Bar Chart
We can create a horizontal line based on our forecasted data in the Bar Chart quite easily. For this, we just have to follow the following procedures.
Steps:
- Firstly, create a dataset with the actual value and forecasted value. In this article, I have created a dataset with employee’s Name, Actual Sales, and Forecasted Sales.
- Then, select the entire table.
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Next, click on Recommended Charts from the ribbon.
An Insert Chart wizard will appear.
- Click on the All Charts tab.
- Sequentially, select the Combo option.
- Be careful on selecting the Forecasted Sales as a Line.
- Finally, click on OK to finish the process.
Thus, we can have a horizontal line in the Bar Chart.
Read More: Excel Add Line to Bar Chart
2. Adding Average Horizontal Line to Excel Bar Chart
Another easy and simple way to add a horizontal line to an Excel bar chart is to create an average line on the Bar Chart. The steps are explained in the following section.
Steps:
- Input the following formula to calculate the average.
=AVERAGE($C$5:$C$17)
Here, the AVERAGE function is used to calculate the average in cells C5:C17.
- Press ENTER to have the average result.
- Use Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest cells.
- Next, select all the data in the table.
- Go to the Insert tab.
- From the ribbon, click on the Insert Column or Bar Chart option.
- Select a column pattern from the 2-D Column according to your choice.
We will have a chart based on our given instructions.
- Now, Right-click on the chart.
- Pick the Change Chart Type… option.
A Change Chart Type wizard will come forward.
- Firstly, choose the All Charts
- Then, pick the Combo
- Followingly, check the Average as
- Finally, hit the OKÂ button.
Thus, we can add the added horizontal line to the Bar Chart.
Read More:Â How to Add Vertical Line to Excel Bar Chart
3. Adding Median Horizontal Line to Excel Bar Chart
Calculating the Median and using it as a reference line is another way to add the horizontal line to a Bar Chart.
Steps:
- Use the following formula to calculate the median value:
=MEDIAN($C$5:$C$17)
Here, the MEDIAN function calculates the median value considering the values in cells C5:C17.
- Now, press ENTER to have the median value.
- Next, use Fill Handle to AutoFill the rest cells.
- Followingly, select the entire table.
- Then, Go to the Insert tab.
- Next, click on Recommended Charts from the ribbon.
We will have an Insert Chart wizard.
- Sequentially, click on the All Charts
- Then, select the Combo
- Be careful on selecting the Forecasted Sales as a Line.
- Finally, click on OK to finish the process.
This is another way of adding a horizontal line to a Bar Chart.
Read More: How to Create Bar Chart with Target Line in Excel
Practice Section
For more expertise, you can practice here.
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Conclusion
That’s all for the article. In this article, I have tried to explain 3 easy ways to add a horizontal line to an Excel Bar Chart. It will be a matter of great pleasure for me if this article could help any Excel user even a little. For any further queries, comment below.
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