How to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent (3 Simple Ways)

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Whenever you insert a new chart in excel the color of the chart changes to the default color. Suppose, you inserted a chart for a dataset and formatted it according to your need. If you want to make the same chart with another dataset and keep the colors consistent, then this article will be helpful. The main objective of this article is to explain how to keep Excel chart colors consistent.


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3 Simple Ways to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

To explain this article, I have taken the following dataset. It contains the Months and Sales in those months for Texas. Here, I will insert a chart for this dataset and then format it so that the chart becomes more meaningful.

How to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

In the following picture, you can see the second dataset. This dataset contains the Sales for Missouri. I will insert the same chart I inserted before for this dataset and keep the chart colors consistent in Excel.

3 Simple Ways to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent


1. Using Copy Paste Feature to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

In this first method, I will use the copy-paste feature to keep chart color consistent in Excel. Let’s see how it is done.

Steps:

To begin with, I will insert the chart and format the colors according to my need.

  • Firstly, select the data range for the chart.
  • Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
  • Thirdly, select the chart you want. Here, I selected Column or Bar Chart.

Using Copy Paste Feature to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

After that, a drop-down menu will appear.

  • Now, select the chart type you want. Here, I selected the Clustered Column Chart.

Here, you will see a Clustered Column Chart has been inserted for your selected data.

Now, I will change the Chart Style for the chart.

  • Firstly, select the Chart.
  • Secondly, go to the Chart Design tab.
  • Thirdly, select the style you want. Here, I selected the marked style for my chart.

Changing Chart Style to Keep Colors Consistent in Excel

At this point, I will change the color of the columns to give the chart more meaning.

  • Firstly, double-click on a column to select the column. Here, I selected the first column of the cell.

Now, Format Data Point will appear on the right side of the screen.

  • Firstly, select the Fill & Line tab.
  • Secondly, select the drop-down option for Color.
  • Thirdly, select the color you want for that column.

After that, you will see the color of that column is changed to your selected column.

  • Now, change the color of other columns of the chart in the same way.

Selecting Different Colors for each Column to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

In the following picture, you can see my final chart.

Here, I will insert the same chart for the Sales for Missouri and keep the chart colors consistent in Excel.

  • Firstly, select the chart you inserted before.
  • Secondly, copy the chart by pressing CTRL+C on your keyboard. Here, CTRL+C is the keyboard shortcut for the copy feature.

  • Thirdly, select the cell where you want to insert the chart. Here, I selected cell B12.

  • After that, press CTRL+V to paste the chart you copied before.

Now, you will see the chart is copied with color and formatting.

Here, I will select the data for this chart.

  • Firstly, Right-click on the chart.
  • Secondly, select Select Data.

After that, a dialog box named Select Data Source will appear.

  • Next, click on the marked button to select the Chart data range.

  • Now, select the data range you want for this chart.
  • After that, select the marked button to add the data range to your Select Data Source dialog box.

Here, you will see the data range is added to the dialog box.

  • Then, select OK.

Finally, you can see that I have inserted an Excel chart for my dataset and kept the chart colors consistent.

Read More: How to Copy a Chart to Another Sheet in Excel (2 Easy Methods)


2. Use of Save as Template Command

In this second method, I will explain how you can use the Save as Template command in Excel to keep the chart colors consistent. Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • Firstly, Right-click on the chart.
  • Secondly, select Save as Template.

Use of Save as Template Command

Here, the Save Chart Template dialog box will appear.

  • Firstly, write the File name. Here, I wrote mine as Chart1.
  • Secondly, select Save.

After that, The template will be saved and you will be able to use this template.

Using Save as Template Command to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

Now, I will insert this same chart for a new dataset and keep the color consistent.

  • Firstly, select the data range for the chart.
  • Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
  • Thirdly, click on the marked button from the Charts group.

Opening Insert Chart Dialog Box to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

After that, the Insert Chart dialog box will appear.

  • Firstly, go to the All Charts tab.
  • Secondly, select Templates.
  • Thirdly, select the Template you created before.
  • After that, select OK.

Finally, you will see that you have inserted an Excel chart and kept chart colors consistent.

Read More: How to Change Chart Color Based on Value in Excel (2 Methods)


3. Applying Format Data Series Option to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

Here, I will explain how you can apply the Format Data Series command to keep Excel chart colors consistent. Let’s see the steps.

Steps:

  • Firstly, insert a chart and then format it by following the steps from Method-01.

Applying Format Data Series to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

  • Secondly, Right-click on any Column of the chart.
  • Thirdly, select Format Data Series.

After that, the Format Data Series will appear on the right side of the screen.

  • Firstly, select the Fill & Line tab.
  • Secondly, check the Vary colors by point option.

Here, you will see the color of every column has changed and this gives the chart a better view and more meaning.

Now, I will change the color of the chart.

  • Firstly, select the chart.
  • Secondly, go to the Chart Design tab.
  • Thirdly, select Change Colors.

Here, a drop-down menu will appear.

  • After that, select the color palette you want for your chart. Here, I selected the marked color palette.

Selecting Colors from Color Palette to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

In the following picture, you can see my final chart.

Now, I will save this theme so that I can use this theme to keep chart colors consistent.

  • Firstly, Right-click on the chart.
  • Secondly, select Save as Template.

Here, the Save Chart Template dialog box will appear.

  • Firstly, write the File name. Here, I wrote mine as Chart2.
  • Secondly, select Save.

After that, The template will be saved and you will be able to use this template.

Save Chart Template Dialog box to Keep Excel Chart Colors Consistent

Now, I will insert this same chart for a new dataset and keep the color consistent.

  • Firstly, select the data range for the chart.
  • Secondly, go to the Insert tab.
  • Thirdly, click on the marked button from the Charts group.

After that, the Insert Chart dialog box will appear.

  • Firstly, go to the All Charts tab.
  • Secondly, select Templates.
  • Thirdly, select the Template you created before.
  • After that, select OK.

Custom Template to Keep Chart colors Consistent in Excel

Finally, you will see that you have inserted an Excel chart and kept the chart color consistent.

Read More: How to Change Series Color in Excel Chart (5 Quick Ways)


Practice Section

Here, I have provided a practice sheet for you to practice how to keep Excel chart color consistent.

Practice Sheet for How to Keep EXcel Chart Colors Consistent


Conclusion

In this article, I tried to cover how to keep Excel chart color consistent. Here, I explained 3 different methods by which you can do it. I hope this article was helpful for you. Stay connected with ExcelDemy for more articles like this. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the comment section below.


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Mashhura Jahan
Mashhura Jahan

Mashhura Jahan, BSc in Industrial and Production Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, invested 1.5 years at ExcelDemy. In roles like Excel & VBA Content Developer, Excel Charts, and Dashboard course trainer, she wrote 90+ articles. She was previously part of the forum support team and a junior software analyst on the Excel Add-in project. With interests spanning Excel, VBA, Power Query, Python, Data Science, and Software Development, Mashhura brings a diverse skill set to her... Read Full Bio

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