For most 2-D charts, you can change the chart type of the entire chart to give the chart a completely different look, or you can select a different chart type for any single data series, which turns the chart into a combination chart. For bubble charts and most 3-D charts, you can only change the chart type of the entire chart. For more information about the chart types that you can use, see Available chart types.

  1. Do one of the following:
    • To change the chart type of the entire chart, click the chart area or plot area of the chart to display the chart tools.
    • To change the chart type of a single data series, click that data series.

    Tip This displays the chart tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

  2. On the Design tab, in the Type group, click Change Chart Type.

    excel ribbon image

  3. In the Change Chart Type dialog box, do one of the following:
    • Click a chart type in the first box, and then click the chart subtype that you want to use in the second box.
    • If you saved a chart type as a template, click Templates, and then click the chart template that you want to use in the second box.

Note You can only change the chart type of one data series at a time. To change the chart type of more than one data series in the chart, you must repeat all of the steps in this procedure for each data series.

Tip If you use a specific chart type frequently when you create a chart, you may want to set that chart type as the default chart type. After you select the chart type and the chart subtype in the Change Chart Type dialog box, click Set as Default Chart.

See also: