Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on March 15, 2021

I found an interesting chart on CNN's website: Rise of the supersize rugby player It shows the average height of athletes for the past 40 years. Check it out.

It made me think how can I do this in Excel? First I drew this nice man, see the image below. I am going to use this picture in my chart. It is not as nice as the other chart but it will do for this demonstration.

I searched for average heights around the world and found some statistics: Wikipedia. I chose a few countries and built a small data set, I will use this data in my example chart.

1. Create a column chart

Use pictures in a column chart select data

  1. Select the data, see image above.
  2. Go to tab "Insert" on the ribbon.
  3. Select a new clustered column chart.

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2. Delete the chart legend

Use pictures in a column chart chart legend

  1. Press with left mouse button on the chart legend to select it.
  2. Press Delete on your keyboard to remove it from the chart.

Use pictures in a column chart chart without legend legend

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3. Change chart gap width

Use pictures in a column chart change chart gap width

  1. Press with right mouse button on on the data series.
  2. Press with left mouse button on "Format Data Series...". You will now see a dialog box or a settings pane depending on what Excel version you are using.
  3. Press with left mouse button on Series Options.
  4. Change gap width to 20%.
  5. Close the dialog box.

Use pictures in a column chart change chart gap width1

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4. Insert a picture to chart column

Use pictures in a column chart insert picture

  1. Press with left mouse button on "Fill and Line"
  2. Press with left mouse button on "Picture or texture fill".
  3. Press with left mouse button on the "Insert.." button.
    Use pictures in a column chart insert picture1
  4. A dialog box appears. Select a picture file you want to use.
  5. Press with left mouse button on Insert.

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5. Change min y-axis value

Use pictures in a column chart change min y axis value

  1. Press with right mouse button on on chart y-axis, see image above. A popup menu shows up.
  2. Press with left mouse button on "Format axis..."
  3. Press with left mouse button on "Axis Options".
    Use pictures in a column chart axis options
  4. Change the minimum value to 0 (zero).
  5. Press with left mouse button on OK.

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Get the Excel file


Pictures-in-a-column-chart.xlsx

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Read more

Build a comparison chart  | Add pictures to a chart axis | An animated bar chart | Highlight a bar in a chart | Heat map using pictures | Use a map in an excel chart

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