Clustered Column Chart Spacing in Excel: 4 Easy Ways

Method 1 – Format Data Series to Adjust Clustered Column Chart Spacing in Excel

STEPS:

• Select the range B4:D8.

• Go to the Insert tab and click the Insert Column or Bar Chart drop-down icon.
• Choose the 2-D Clustered Column.

• The desired clustered column chart will appear in the Excel worksheet.
• See the below figure.

• Right-click any of the columns in the chart.
• Press Format Data Series in the pop-out Context menu.

• The Format Data Series pane will emerge on the left side.
• Modify the Series Overlap and the Gap Width according to your requirements.
• The Series Overlap is between the sales of each quarter in 2 cities.
• The Gap Width is between the quarters.
• Type -5% for Series Overlap and 50% for Gap Width to reduce the spacing between the columns for convenience in comparison.

• It’ll return the chart as shown below.
• This makes it better to compare visually.

Method 2 – Adjust Excel Clustered Column Chart Spacing by Adding Legend

STEPS:

• Create the chart by following the steps in the previous example.
• Right-click the chart.
• Press the Select Data option from the context menu.

• The Select Data Source dialog box will pop out.
• Click Add.

• The Edit Series box will appear.
• Input ={0} in the Series Values field.
• Press OK.

• Get the desired spacing between the columns in the clustered column chart.

Method 3 – Modify Dataset for Changing Column Chart Spacing in Excel

STEPS:

• Right-click on the row header of the Q2 row.
• Select Insert from the pop-up context menu.

• Repeat the step after every quarter.
• IModify your dataset.
• Look at the following picture for a better understating of our output.

• Select the range B4:D11.
• Go to Insert and choose 2-D Clustered Column chart.
• You’ll get extra spacing between the columns in the chart.

Method 4 – Drag Clustered Column Chart Area to Adjust Spacing

STEPS:

• Insert the chart following the steps in the 1st example.
• Click the chart and place the cursor on the midpoint in the right or left side edge of the chart.
• See the change in your cursor, and the Chart Area writing will appear.

• Click on the mouse and drag the chart area to adjust the spacing.
• See the below figure which is our outcome after modifying the chart area.

Download Practice Workbook

Download the following workbook to practice by yourself.

Related Articles

• How to Insert a Clustered Column Chart in Excel
• How to Create a Stacked Column Chart in Excel
• How to Make a 100% Stacked Column Chart in Excel

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