How to Create Overlapping Bar Chart in Excel (with Easy Steps)

Step 1 – Create Custom Combo Chart

Select the dataset.
Select “Create Custom Combo Chart” from the “Insert Combo Chart” menu under the Insert tab.

Create Custom Combo Chart to Create Overlapping Bar Chart in Excel

The Insert Chart window will pop up.
Change the Chart Type of both series to Clustered Bar.
For the Target series, select Secondary Axis.
Press OK.

The following chart will be inserted.

Step 2 – Edit Chart Elements

Select the chart and click on the Chart Elements icon (the green plus sign).
Select the Axis Titles.
Deselect Gridlines.
Double-click on the titles to change them.

Edit Chart Elements to Create Overlapping Bar Chart in Excel

Double-click on the “Target” Axis and set the Maximum Bounds to 100.

Double-click on the “Target” bar chart.
Set Gap Width to 30% from the Series Options tab (this value reduces the gap between the bars, you can change it according to your needs).

Select the “Target” bar chart and go to the Fill & Line tab.
Select Solid fill under the Fill section.
Select your desired fill color inside the Color.
Set the Transparency to 70%.

The chart will be modified as shown in the following image.

Change the “Achieved” bar chart’s fill color.
Enlarge the chart for better visuals. This will complete the creation process of the overlapping bar chart.

Excel Overlapping Bar Chart

How to Create Stacked Bar Chart with Subcategories in Excel

We have a sample dataset that shows sales and profits for four different products at a specific store that has two locations in Texas and Missouri to illustrate the process.

How to Create Stacked Bar Chart with Subcategories in Excel

Select the dataset.
From the Insert tab, select Stacked Bar from the Insert tab, which is under the Insert Column or Bar Chart menu.

A basic chart will be inserted.

We will insert a chart title, add data labels, decrease the series gap width and resize the chart for better visualization.
The goal of creating a stacked bar chart with subcategories will be completed.