How to Make a Confidence Interval Graph in Excel (3 Methods)

The confidence interval is one kind of add-on to a graph. When there is some uncertainty factor that exists in a dataset, we use this confidence interval in a graph. Here, a 95% confidence rate is mostly used in graphs. In this section, we will discuss how to make a confidence interval graph in Excel.

What Is Confidence Interval?

The Confidence Interval is an estimated amount that can vary from the standard value. Widely, a 95% confidence level is expected used. In some situations, the confidence level may increase up to 99%. Also, need to mention that confidence may be both-sided or one-sided.

How to Make a Confidence Interval Graph in Excel: 3 Easy Methods

Usually, we need two columns to make a graph. But to add confidence interval in a graph, we need more columns in the dataset. Have a look at the below dataset.

There is an error value section in the dataset, that is the confidence interval of the graph. More than one column can exist in the data to present a confidence interval.

1. Make Both Sided Confidence Interval Graph Using Margin Value

In this section, we will first create a column chart and introduce the confidence interval amount with the existing graph.

📌 Steps:

• First, choose the Category and Value columns.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Choose Insert Column or Bar Chart from the Charts group.
• Select Clustered Column from the list of charts.

• Look at the graph.

This is the Category Vs Value graph.

• Click on the graph.
• We will see an extension section on the right side of the graph.
• Click on the Plus button.
• We choose the Error Bars option from the Chart Elements section.
• Select the More Options from Error Bars.

• We can see the Format Error Bars appear on the right side of the sheet.
• Mark Both as Direction and Cap from the End Style section.
• Finally, go to the Custom option of the Error Amount section.
• Click on the Specify Value tab.

• We can see the Custom Error Bars window appears.
• Now, put the Range D5:D9 on both of the boxes.

• Finally, press the OK

We can see a line on each of the columns. Those indicating the confidence interval amount.

2. Use Both Upper and Lower Limits to Create a Confidence Graph

In this section, we will use the lower and upper limits of values that will indicate the confidence interval area using a line chart. We will calculate the upper and lower limits and then create the chart based on those two columns.

📌 Steps:

• First, add two columns to the dataset.

• Go to Cell E5 and sum the value and error columns.
• Put the following formula on that cell.

• Pull the Fill Handle icon downwards.

• Then, we will calculate the lower limit at Cell F5. Put the following formula.

• Again, drag the Fill Handle icon.

• Now, choose the Category, Upper Limit, and Lower Limit columns.

• Then, go to the Insert tab.
• Choose Insert Line or Area Chart from the Charts group.
• Select the Line graph from the list.

• Now, look at the graph.

The area between the two lines is the area of concentration. Our desire will be between that range.

3. Make a One-Sided Confidence Interval Graph for Error

In this section, we will discuss how to make a one-sided confidence interval graph by calculating error values.

In our data, we have two values for each category. Value-1 is our standard value and Value-2 is the temporary value. Our main graph will be based on Value-1 and the difference between Value-1 and Value-2 is the confidence interval.

📌 Steps:

• We will add a new column on the right side to calculate the difference indicating the error.

• Go to Cell E5 and put the following formula.

• Drag the Fill Handle icon downwards.

• Now, select the Category and Value-1 Press the Insert tab.
• Choose Insert Line or Area Chart from the Charts group.
• Select the Stacked Line with Markers chart from the list.

• Look at the graph.

This is the graph of Category Vs. Value.

• Click on the graph.
• Then, press the Plus button from the right side of the graph.
• Proceed to Chart Elements >> Error Bars >> More Options.

• The Format Error Bars window appears.
• Choose Plus as Direction, Cap as End Style, and click on the Custom option from the Error Amount section.
• Click on the Specify Value option.

• The Custom Error Value window appears.
• Input the range from the Error column on both boxes.

• Finally, press OK.

We can see bars on both sides of the line. Esteemed values may be lower or upper that the standard value.

Read More: How to Calculate 99 Confidence Interval in Excel

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.

Conclusion

In this article, we described how to make a confidence interval graph in Excel. We showed one-sided, two-sided, and areas between lines with confidence intervals. I hope this will satisfy your needs. Please, give your suggestions in the comment box.

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