Year Over Year Comparison Chart in Excel (Create in 4 Ways)

This article illustrates how to create a year over year comparison chart in Excel. You can compare yearly revenue, growth, sales, etc. using this chart. You will learn to do that using 4 types of charts by following this article.

How to Create Year Over Year Comparison Chart in Excel: 4 Ways

Assume you have the following dataset. It contains the annual growth of 5 USA-based companies. The letter Y before the years is used so that Excel considers them as headers and not part of another data row.

Follow the methods below to create the year over year comparison chart using the dataset.

1. Year Over Year Comparison with Line Chart

Follow the steps below to show the year-over-year comparison of company growth with a Line Chart.

📌 Steps

First, select a cell (B) within the dataset so that Excel can detect the range to insert the Line Chart.
Then select Insert Line or Area Chart >> 2-D Line >> Line from the Insert tab.

After that, you will get the following result. You can click on the Chart Title to rename it as required.

But the chart is showing the trend of growth of different companies each year. Would it not be more befitting to show the trend of growth of each company over the years for a comparison? Now, right-click on the chart and click on Select Data to do that.

Then click on Switch Row/Column and select OK.

After that, the chart will look as follows.

Now, move the Legends as required from the Chart Element tab.

You can add or remove gridlines from the chart by clicking on the Gridlines checkbox.

Now notice that the horizontal axis is not aligned correctly. So, right-click on the axis and click on Format Axis.

Then select the Lebel Position to Low from the Format Axis pane.

After that, the axis will be adjusted as follows.

2. Year Over Year Comparison with Column Chart

Alternatively, you can show the year-over-year comparison with a Column Chart. Follow the steps below to be able to do that.

📌 Steps

First, click anywhere in the dataset or select the entire dataset. Then select Insert Column or Bar Chart >> 2-D Column >> Clustered Column from the Insert tab.

Then, the column chart will be inserted as follows. Next, click on the Chart Title and edit it.

After that, click on the Chart Element menu and select Legend >> Top.

Next, select any column in the chart and click on Format Data Series.

Then, make the Series Overlap to 0% and change the Gap Width to 70% from the Format Data Series pane.

Next, right-click on the horizontal axis and select Format Axis.

Then, change the Label Position to Low from the Format Axis pane.

After that, you will see the following result.

Finally, you can right-click on any column and pick a Fill color for the corresponding data series.

3. Year Over Year Comparison with Bar Chart

You can also show the year-over-year comparison of growths in a Bar Chart. Follow the steps below to do that.

📌 Steps

First, select the dataset as in the earlier methods. Then select Insert Column or Bar Chart >> 2-D Bar >> Clustered Bar from the Insert tab.

After that, you will get the following result. You can change the Chart Title as you see fit by clicking on it.

Next, right-click on the vertical axis and select Format Axis.

Then, change the Label Position to Low from the Format Axis pane.

After that, the axis will be aligned properly.

Now check the Data Labels checkbox from the Chart Element menu.

Then right-click on the plot area and choose an outline color.

Finally, the chart will look as follows.

4. Year Over Year Comparison with Pivot Chart

Another alternative to show the year-over-year comparison of growths can be to use the PivotChart. Follow the steps below to see how to do that.

📌 Steps

First, click anywhere in the dataset. Then select Insert >> PivotChart.

Then, enter the location where you want to insert the chart and click OK.

After that, a blank PivotTable and a blank PivotChart will be inserted. Now check the checkboxes for all fields in the PivotChart Fields pane.

Now change some formatting in the PivotTable and the PivotChart. Finally, you will see the following result.

Things to Remember

You must click on the charts to access the editing tools.
Make sure to format the years properly so that Excel considers them as headings.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from the download button below.

Year Over Year Comparison Chart.xlsx

Conclusion

Now you know how to show the year-over-year comparison of a dataset in a chart in Excel. Do you have any further queries or suggestions? Please let us know using the comment section below. You can also visit our ExcelDemy blog to explore more about Excel. Stay with us and keep learning.

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