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How to add and remove error bars in Excel?

Author: Kelly Last Modified: 2024-11-22

Error bars are valuable chart tools that represent data variability and indicate the difference between reported values and true values. This guide will show you how to add and remove error bars in Excel charts effectively. Whether you're presenting experimental data, survey results, or financial forecasts, understanding how to use error bars will enhance your ability to communicate the reliability of your data visually.

add error bars in chart

arrow blue right bubbleAdd Error Bar for the selected chart

Step 1: Click the chart that you want to add to the error bar, and then it will activate the Chart Tools in Ribbon.

Step 2: Click the Layout >> Analysis >> Error Bar.

Step 3: Select one of three items in the drop-down list to add an error bar for the selected chart:

select one of three error bar types under the Error Bar

Error Bar with Standard Error: show error bars for the selected chart series using Standard Error.

  • Error Bars with Percentage: show error bars for the selected chart series with 5% value.
  • Error Bars with Standard Deviation: show error bars for the selected chart series with 1 standard deviation.
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arrow blue right bubbleCustom the Error Bar Option

In addition, users are allowed to format error bars. Click the More Error Bars Options item from the drop-down list, and you can configure the custom options of the error bar easily. See the following screenshot:
set custom the Error Bar Option in the dialog box

In the Display section, you can specify the direction and end style of the error bar. And in the Error Amount section, you can specify the custom settings:

  • Click the Custom: option.
  • Click the Specify Value button.
  • Now you get into the Custom Error Bars dialog box, specify the positive/Negative error value according to your needs.
  • Click OK to save the settings.

specify the positive/Negative error value according to your needs

arrow blue right bubbleRemove Error Bar for the selected chart

Just select the None item in the drop-down list of Error bars, you can remove the Error bars for the selected chart as soon as possible.

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