How to Ignore Blank Cells in Excel Bar Chart (4 Easy Methods)

If you are looking for an Excel Bar Chart ignoring blank cells, you have come to the right place. Here, we will walk you through 4 easy and effective methods to do the task smoothly.

Excel Bar Chart Ignore Blank Cells: 4 Methods

The following dataset has the Month and Profit columns. We can see in the Profit column that the values for the months of March and May are blank in cells C7 and C9. Now, we have to insert a Bar chart using this data table. Here, we will demonstrate to you 2 methods for Excel Bar charts to ignore blank cells. In this article, we used Excel 365. You can use any available Excel version.

1. Using 2D Bar Chart to Ignore Blank Cells 

In this method, first, we will insert a 2D Bar chart using our dataset. After that, we will use the Select Data feature to select Zero(0) to Show empty cells. As a result, we will be able to create an Excel Bar chart that ignores blank cells.

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

Step-1: Inserting 2D Bar Chart

In this step, we will insert a Bar chart.

• First, we will select the entire dataset >> go to the Insert tab.
• Next from Insert Column or Bar Chart group >> select 2D Clustered Bar chart.

As a result, you can see the Bar chart.

• At this point, we will click on the Chart Title to edit the Chart Title.

Hence, you can see a Bar chart with an edited Chart Title.

Step-2: Adding Data Label to Bar Chart

In this step, we will add Data Labels to our Bar chart.

• In the beginning, we will click on the chart and select Chart Elements.
• Moreover, mark Data Labels.

As a result, you can see Data Labels in the chart.

Here, you can easily notice that as the months of March and  May had blank cells, the chart has no data labels for these two months. Therefore, the chart looks incomplete.

Step-3: Using Select Data Feature to Ignore Blank Cells

In this step, we will go through the Select Data feature to select Zero(0) to Show empty cells. Hence, the blank months in the chart will have 0 as the value.

• First of all, right-click on the chart.
• Furthermore, select Select Data from the Context Menu.

A Select Data Source dialog box will appear.

• Later, click on Hidden and Empty Cells.

A Hidden and Empty Cell Settings dialog box will appear.

• Next, Select Show empty cells as Zero.
• Afterward, mark both the Show #N/A as an empty cell box and the Show data in the hidden rows and columns box.
• Moreover, click OK.

• Along with that, click OK in the Select Data Source dialog box.

As a result, you can see that the month of March and May is showing $0 instead of blanks.

Read More: How to Make a Stacked Bar Chart in Excel

2. Inserting 3D Bar Chart to Ignore Blank Cells 

In this method, first, we will insert a 3D Bar chart using our dataset. After that, we will use the Select Data feature to select Zero(0) to Show empty cells. As a result, we will be able to create an Excel Bar chart that ignores blank cells.

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

• First, we will insert a 3D Bar chart.
• To do so, we will select the entire dataset >> go to the Insert tab.
• After that, select Recommended Charts.

An Insert Chart dialog box will appear.

• Then, go to All Charts >> select Bar.
• Afterward, from 3D Clustered Bar Group >> select the colored Bar Chart.
• Moreover, click OK.

Hence, you can see the 3D Bar chart.

At this point, we will click on the Chart Title to edit the Chart Title.

Hence, you can see the 3D Bar chart with an edited Chart Title.

• Next, we will follow Step 2 of Method 1 to add Data Labels to the 3D Bar chart.
• Along with that, we will follow Step-3 of Method-1 to go through the Select Data feature to select Zero(0) as Show empty cells.

As a result, you can see that the month of March and May is showing instead of $0 of blanks.

Read More: How to Create Stacked Bar Chart with Negative Values in Excel

3. Using a Table to Ignore Blank Cells in Excel Bar Chart

In this method, we will insert a Table in our dataset. After that, we will filter the blank cells out of the table. Then, we will insert a Bar chart. This will ignore blank cells from the Excel Bar chart.

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

Step-1: Inserting Table

In this step, we will insert a Table using our dataset.

• First of all, select the entire dataset.

You can select cell B4 and use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+END to select the entire dataset quickly.

• After that, go to the Insert tab.
• Next, from the Tables group >> click on Table.

At this point, a Create Table dialog box will appear.

Afterward, make sure My table has headers marked.

• Along with that, click OK.

As a result, you can see the Table.

Here, we change the Table header’s Text color to Black so that they look more visible.

Step 2: Filtering Data Table

In this step, we will Filter out the Blank cells from the table.

• To do so, first, we will click on the drop-down arrow of the Profit column.

Therefore, you can see a dialog box appears.

Here, in the Number Filters group, you can see all the numerical values are selected including the Blanks.

• Afterward, we will unmark the Blanks.

As a result, you can see, that the table now contains no blank cells.

Step-3: Inserting Bar Chart

In this step, we will insert a Bar chart using the Table.

• In the beginning, we will select the entire Table >> go to the Insert tab.
• Afterward, from Insert Column or Bar Chart >> we select a Clustered Bar Chart.

Therefore, you can see the Excel Bar chart ignoring blank cells.

Read More: How to Create Stacked Bar Chart for Multiple Series in Excel

4. Using Combined Functions to Ignore Blank Cells

Here, the following dataset has the Date and Profit columns. You can see that there are a number of blank cells in both the Date and the Profit columns. Here, we will use the combination of the INDEX, AGGREGATE, IFERROR, ROW, and ROWS functions to remove the blank cells from the Date column. Along with that, we will use the combination of the INDEX and MATCH functions to remove the blank cells of the Profit column. After that, we will insert a Bar chart. As a result, we will get an Excel Bar chart that ignores blank cells.

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

Step-1: Finding Date in Data Preparation Table by Using Index Function

In this step, we will use the INDEX function to find the date in the Data Preparation Table.

• First of all, we will type the following formula in cell F5.

• After that, press ENTER.

Then, you can see the result in cell F5.

Here, a number is shown in cell F5 instead of a Date. We have to format cell F5 with the Date to bring out the Date.

• Next, select cell F5 >> go to the Home tab.
• Afterward, click on the downward arrow of the Number Format box.

• Furthermore, select Short Date.

Hence, you can see in cell F5, the date is showing.

Step 2: Adding Serial to Date Column

In this step, we will add a Serial column to our Data Preparation Table. The Serial column indicates serial from 1 to 9. Here, the previous formula of cell F5 was

=INDEX($B$5:$B$13,1)

Next, we will replace 1 with E5.

As a result, the formula becomes

• After that, press ENTER.
• Then, you can see the result in cell F5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Here, you can see that the cells F7, F9, and F11 have date values that are not real dates. This is because the cells B7, B9, and B11 have blank cells.

Step 3: Adding Row Number by Using AGGREGATE and ROW Functions

In this step, we will add a Row Number to our Data Preparation Table. We will use the combination of AGGREGATE and ROW functions to do the task.

• First of all, we will type the following formula in cell H5.

• Next, press ENTER.
• Then, you can see the result in cell H5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

As a result, you can see the complete Row Number column.

Step-4: Updating Formula in Cell H5

Here, in cells H7, H9, and H11, we do not want Row Number 7, 9, or 11. For instance, here, we want 8 in cell H7 instead of 7. This is because cells B7, B9, and B11 have blank cells. As a result, we want the Row Number to skip these blank cells and update.

• To do so, we will type the following formula in cell H5.

• Next, press ENTER.
• Then, you can see the result in cell H5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

As a result, you can see the values 7, 9, and 11 are missing in the Row Number column. As a result, the Row Number is now updated and they ignore blank cells.

Step-5: Modifying Formula in Cell H5 by Using ROWS Function

In this step, we will replace E5 of the formula of cell H5 with a formula written with the ROWS function. This is because we want to remove the Serial column from our Data Preparation Table. As a result, the Row Number will no longer depend on the Serial column.

• In the beginning, type the following formula in cell H5.

• Next, press ENTER.
• Then, you can see the result in cell H5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Here, you can see the values are the same in the Row Number column, however, the formula is different.

Step-6: Changing Formula in Cell H5 to Number Rows Serially

Here, the Row Number column starts from 5. However, we want the Row Number column to start from 1, and they must go serially.

• To do so, we will type the following formula in cell H5.

• After that, press ENTER.
• Next, you can see the result in cell H5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

Therefore, you can see the Row Number now starts from 1 and goes serially.

Hence, the Row Number is the complete serial number for the INDEX function.

Step-7: Copying Formula from Cell H5

In this step, we will copy the formula from cell H5. And after that, in the formula of cell F5, we will paste the copied formula. Here, the previous formula in cell F5 was

Here, we will replace the cell reference E5 with the copied formula. This will end the dependence of the Date column on the Serial column.

• In the beginning, we will copy the formula of cell H5.

Here, we simply select the formula and press CTRL+C to copy the formula.

• After that, we replace E5 from the formula of cell F5 by pasting the copied formula.

The new formula becomes

• Along with that, we will use the IFERROR function in the formula of cell F5 to ignore any sort of error.

As a result, the formula becomes

• After that, press ENTER.

Next, you can see the result in cell H5.

• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

As a result, you can see the Date column ignoring the blank cells.

Step-8: Deleting Serial and Row Number Columns

In this step, we will delete the Row Number and Serial columns. This is because our Date column does not depend on these columns anymore.

• First of all, select the entire Row Number column. You can simply click on Column H to select the Row Number column.
• After that, right-click on it.
• Moreover, select Delete from the Context Menu.

• Repeat the following process to delete the Serial column as well.

Therefore, you can see the Data Preparation Table now contains the Date and Profit columns.

Step-9: Completing Profit Column

In this step, we will complete the Profit column by using the combination of INDEX and MATCH functions.

• First of all, we will type the following formula in cell F5.

• Next, press ENTER.
• Then, you can see the result in cell H5.
• Afterward, drag down the formula with the Fill Handle tool.

As a result, you can see the complete Profit column.

• Next, we delete the last three columns of the Data Preparation Table as they do not contain any values.

As a result, the Data Preparation Table has no blank cells.

Step-10: Inserting Bar Chart

In this step, we will insert a Bar chart using the following dataset.

• Here, we will follow Step-1 of Method-1 to insert the Bar chart and edit the chart title.

As a result, you can see the Bar Chart ignores blank cells.

Read More: How to Create Bar Chart with Multiple Categories 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 4 methods for Excel Bar charts to ignore blank cells. 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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