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To make a graph in Google Sheets, select your data on a computer, then choose Insert > Chart. Sheets calls the object a chart, but the terms “graph” and “chart” are often used interchangeably. After it appears, you can change its type or data range, download it as an SVG, PNG, or PDF, or remove the entire chart or just one of its elements.
How to make a graph in Google Sheets
- Open your spreadsheet in Google Sheets on a computer.
- Select the cells containing the data you want to visualize. Include the relevant labels and values.
- Choose Insert > Chart. Sheets inserts a chart based on the selected range.
- To adjust the result, double-click the chart to open the chart editor. Under Setup, change the chart type or edit the data range.
If the chart is blank, omits values, or includes unrelated cells, check the data range in Setup and revise it. You can also select a different range before inserting the chart.
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Choose a chart type for your data
Pick a graph based on the question you want it to answer. Google Sheets includes many chart types; these common choices suit different kinds of data:
| What you want to show | Chart type | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Change over time | Line | Shows a trend across a sequence, such as monthly figures. |
| Parts of a whole | Pie | Shows how categories contribute to a total. |
| Relationship between two numeric variables | Scatter | Plots paired numeric values to reveal patterns. |
| Distribution of numeric values | Histogram | Groups values into buckets to show how frequently values fall within ranges. |
| Compare values across categories | Bar or column | Displays category values as horizontal bars or vertical columns. |
Other available chart types include combo, area, waterfall, radar, candlestick, organizational, treemap, geo, gauge, timeline, and table charts. The best choice depends on the data and the point you need to communicate; no single type is right for every graph. See Google’s chart-type guide for more detail.
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How to download a chart from Google Sheets
- Select the chart in the spreadsheet.
- Click More on the chart.
- Choose Download as, then select SVG, PNG, or PDF.
Sheets saves the selected chart in the file format you choose. Google documents these three download options in its chart download and publishing help.
How to delete a graph or one of its parts
Remove the entire chart
To remove the chart object from the spreadsheet, select the chart and press Delete or Backspace. This removes the chart, not the spreadsheet data it was built from.
Delete a chart element
To remove only an item such as the title, legend, data label, or error bar, select that item within the chart and press Delete or Backspace. Make sure the element itself is selected rather than the whole chart. Google’s chart editing help describes deleting individual chart items.
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Optional: Generate a chart with Gemini
Gemini can generate charts in Google Sheets for users who are eligible to use the feature. Google notes that a chart generated this way does not respond to changes in the original dataset. For a chart that you can correct through its data range and chart settings, use Insert > Chart as described above. See Google’s Gemini in Sheets help for eligibility and feature details.
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