How to Change Marker Shape in Excel Graph (3 Easy Methods)

Excel automatically creates a shape for the marker while creating a Line, (XY) Scatter, and Radar chart. These data markers help the reader to understand the value of the data point clearly. However, in many situations, we need to change marker shapes so that they become more visible and eye-catching. In the following article, we will describe 3 easy and effective methods to change marker shape in Excel graph.

How to Change Marker Shape in Excel Graph: 3 Easy Methods

The following dataset has the Month and Monthly Profit columns. Using this dataset we will insert a Line with Markers chart.

To insert a Line with Markers chart, we will go through the following steps.

• First of all, select the entire dataset >> go to the Insert tab.
• After that, from Insert Line or Area Chart group >> select the Line with Markers chart.

As a result, you can see  Line with Markers chart.

Here, you can easily notice that the graph has marker points in it.

In the following article, we will describe to you 3 methods to change marker shape in Excel graph. Here, we used Excel 365. You can use any available Excel version.

1. Use of Format Data Series Feature to Change Marker Shape in Excel Graph

In this method, we will use the Format Data Series feature to change marker shape in Excel graph.

Let’s go through the following steps to do the task.

• First of all, click on any marker of the graph, this will automatically select all the markers of the graph.
• After that, right-click on it.
• At this point, select Format Data Series from the Context Menu.

A Format Data Series dialog box will appear at the right end of the Excel sheet.

• Then, select the Fill & Line option >> select Marker >> select Marker Options.
• Along with that, from Marker Options >> select Built-in box.
• In addition, click on the downward arrow of the Type box.

At this point, you can see several marker shapes appear.

Here, you can select any marker shape according to your choices.

• Next, we will select a rectangle as a marker shape.

Therefore, in the Type box, you can see a rectangular shape.

• Furthermore, we will set the Size to 15.

Here, you can select any Size according to your choices.

• After that, we click on the drop-down arrow of the Color box.
• Then, we select Orange, Accent 2 as our marker color.

As a result, you can see the graph with a rectangular marker shape.

Read More: How to Add Data Markers in Excel 

2. Using Format Selection Option

In this method, we will use the Format Selection option to change marker shape in Excel graph.

Let’s go through the following steps to do the task.

• First click on any marker of the graph, this will automatically select all the markers of the graph.
• After that go to the Format tab >> click on Current Selection.

• Then, from the Current Selection group >> select the Format Selection option.

As a result, you will see a Format Data Series dialog box appears at the right end of the Excel sheet.

• Afterward, select the Fill & Line option >> select Marker >> select Marker Options.
• Along with that, from Marker Options >> select Built-in box.
• Moreover, click on the downward arrow of the Type box.

Then, you can see several marker shapes appear.

Here, you can select any marker shape according to your choices.

• Next, we will select a triangle as a marker shape.

Hence, in the Type box, you can see a triangular shape.

• Next, we will set the Size to 15.

Here, you can select any Size according to your choices.

• After that, we click on the drop-down arrow of the Color box.
• Moreover, we select Green, Accent 6 as our marker color.

Therefore, you can see the graph with a triangular marker shape.

Read More: How to Add Markers for Each Month in Excel 

3. Applying Custom Marker to Change Marker Shape in Excel Graph

You can change the marker shape in Excel graph by inserting a picture, or shape. This is actually customizing markers with your desired shape or picture. In many cases, we need different marker shapes for individual marker points, and along with that, we need to insert pictures or shapes in the markers. In these cases, applying a custom marker is useful.

Here, in the following picture, you can see a Line with Markers graph. In this method, we will insert different shapes for different marker points.

Let’s go through the following steps to do the task.

• In the beginning, we will create a Shape column in our dataset.

• After that, we will go to the Insert tab >> click on Shapes.

This will bring out a huge number of shapes.

• Afterward, we will select a Star shape.

• Furthermore, we will insert the Star shape in cell D5 for January month.

Next, we will insert this Star shape as the marker of January month in the graph.

• To do so, we will select the Star shape >> right-click on it.
• Moreover, select the Copy option from the Context Menu.

• Afterward, we will go back to our chart, and double click on the January marker.

Make sure to double-click, this will select one single marker point.

• Then, press CTRL+V to paste the copied Star shape on the marker.

As a result, you can see that the marker of the January month has a Star shape.

• After that, we repeat the same process to insert different shapes for every individual month in the Shape column.
• Along with that, we copy the shapes and paste them onto the markers of the graph.

Therefore, you can see the marker of the graph has different shapes.

Read More: How to Make Legend Markers Bigger in Excel 

Practice Section

You can download the above Excel file to practice the explained methods.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the Excel file and practice while you are reading this article.

Conclusion

Here, we tried to show you 3 methods to change marker shape in Excel. Thank you for reading this article, we hope this was helpful. If you have any queries or suggestions, please let us know in the comment section below.

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