Excel Chart Bar Width Too Thin (2 Quick Solutions)

The following table has the Date and Sales columns. We will use these columns to insert a Column Chart. Since the Date column has dates in it, which are spread out over a long period, the bar width of the chart will be too thin.

Here’s why.

Steps:

• Select the entire data table.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• From the Insert Column or Bar Chart group, select 2D Clustered Column chart.

• You can see a column chart bar that is thin.

Let’s solve this issue.

Method 1 – Use the Format Axis Option

Solution:

• Right-click on the X–axis of the chart, since that’s the one with the dates.
• Select the Format Axis option from the Context Menu.

• A Format Axis dialog box will appear on the side of the Excel sheet.
• From Axis Options, select Text axis.

• The chart bar width has become thicker.

We will format the chart to make it more presentable.

• Click on the chart.
• Go to the Chart Design tab.
• From the Chart Styles group, select a Chart Style.

• You can see the chart with a thick chart bar width.

Read More: How to Make a Simple Bar Graph in Excel

Method 2 – Using the Format Data Series Option

The following table has Month and Sales columns. We will use this table to insert a Bar chart. As the table contains a lot of rows, the chart bar width will be too thin. We have used a 2D Clustered Bar chart.

Here, you can see the chart bar width is too thin.

• Right-click on any of the bars.
• Select the Format Data Series option from the Context Menu.

• A Format Data Series dialog box will appear on the side of the Excel sheet.
• In Series Options, set the Gap Width to 30%.

• This makes the bars thicker.
• You can try a lower gap width if you want even thicker bars.

We will format the chart to make it more presentable.

• Click on the chart.
• Go to the Chart Design tab.
• From the Chart Styles group, select a Chart Style.

• Here’s one of the styles you can choose.

Read More: How to Create a Bar Chart in Excel with Multiple Bars

Download the Practice Workbook

Related Articles

• How to Make a Bar Graph in Excel without Numbers
• How to Make a Diverging Stacked Bar Chart in Excel
• How to Make a 100 Percent Stacked Bar Chart in Excel
• How to Create Clustered Stacked Bar Chart in Excel
• How to Make a Grouped Bar Chart in Excel
• How to Make a Double Bar Graph in Excel

<< Go Back to Excel Bar Chart | Excel Charts | Learn Excel