How to Make a Stock Chart in Excel

Currently, Microsoft Excel offers 17 different types of charts for you to use. Each of these chart types can be edited in numerous ways to help you get the look that you want. This tutorial will look at each type of excel chart and briefly discuss why it is used.

1. Clustered Column Chart (Column Chart)

A Stock chart, or stock graph, is used to display the trend of a stock's price over time. Some of the values that can be used in these charts are Opening Price, Closing Price, High, Low, and Volume. Stocks charts are beneficial in visualizing stock price trends and volatility over time.

This tutorial will show you how to make and edit a Stock Chart in Excel

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How to Make a Stock chart in Excel

Step 1: Select the data you want displayed in the Stock chart

Use your mouse to select the data you would like to include in your Stock Chart.

Step 2: Click the Insert Tab, and then Click the Stock Symbol in the Charts Group

Once the data is selected, click in the Insert tab to display the Charts section on the ribbon.

Step 3: Click the High-Low-Close button from the Waterfall, Funnel, Stock, Surface or Radar Chart window.

Click the High-Low-Close button from the Stock section in Waterfall, Funnel, Stock, Surface or Radar Chart window, then the chart will appear in the workbook.

Result: Your Stock chart will appear on your worksheet

You will now see your stock graph appear in your worksheet. Now you can start adding chart elements and formatting to your chart. Continue reading for more details on adding chart elements and chart formatting.

How to Add Chart Elements to a Stock chart in Excel

Step 1: Click on a blank area of the chart

Use the cursor to click on a blank area on your chart. Make sure to click on a blank area in the chart. The border around the entire chart will become highlighted. Once you see the border appear around the chart, then you know the chart editing features are enabled.

Step 2: Click on the Chart Elements button next to the chart

Once the chart name area is highlighted, you will see the Chart Elements button next to upper right hand side of the chart. The button looks like a plus sign. Doing this will open the Chart Elements window.

Step 3: Check the Chart Elements you would like to add from the Chart Elements window

Once you have opened the Chart Elements window, you will see a number of items you can select to add to your chart. Check the Chart Elements you would like to display and they will appear on your chart. You can click on the arrow next to each Chart Element option for some additional formatting options.

Here are the available chart elements for a Stock Chart:

Axes
Axes Titles
Chart Title
Data Labels
Data Table
Error Bar
Gridlines
Legend
Trendline

Each of these chart elements can be formatted in a variety of ways. Please see our other tutorials on how to add and format each chart element.

How to Format a Stock chart in Excel

Step 1: Right-Click on a blank area of the chart

Use the mouse to right-click on a blank area on your chart. On the menu that appears select the Format Chart Area option.

Step 2: Select the Format Chart Area option

On the menu that appears select the Format Chart Area option. Doing this will open the Format Chart Area panel on the right side of the workbook.

Step 3: Use the Format Chart Area panel to make changes to the appearance of your chart

Once you have opened the Format Chart Area panel, you will see a number of items you can modify on your chart. use these features to create a custom look for your Stock chart.

Here are the available chart elements for a Stock Chart:

Fill
Border
Shadow
Glow
Soft Edges
3-D Format
Size
Properties

Please note: You can also right click on any of your chart elements and open a separate formatting panel for that particular item. The Format Chart Area panel will be the one you want to use when formatting the main structure of the chart.

Next Topic

How to Make a Surface Chart in Excel

Thanks for checking out this tutorial. If you need additional help, you can check out some of our other free Excel Chart Tutorials, or consider taking an Excel class with one of our professional trainers.