Creating a glossy thermometer chart

Excel 2016 2010 2007 2003
The thermometer chart (also known as a thermometer goal chart or progress chart) is an excellent indicator of the process with well-defined measures, e.g., task status. See also how to create a simple thermometer chart and twin or double thermometer chart. This tip will teach you how to make it more appealing to your audience.
Glossy thermometer chart Excel 365

The trick involves creating a chart that uses a single cell (which holds a percentage value) as a data series.

Glossy thermometer chart data in Excel 365

For example, a spreadsheet is set up to track monthly progress toward a Goal: 1000 new sales in a year. Cell C15 contains the goal value, and cell C17 contains a simple sum formula:

= SUM (C3:C14)

Cell C19 contains a formula that calculates the percent of the Goal:

= C17 / C15.

As you enter new data in column C, the formulas display the current results.

To create a chart like the one above, do the following:

Create a simple chart

   1.   Select cell C19 if you want to create a percentage axis, or select cell C17 if you want to create a volume axis (in this example, C17).

See how to create a chart with a percentage axis for more details.

Note: To simplify your work, leave the blank cells around cell C17. Without this blank row, Excel uses the entire data block for the chart, not just a single cell. Because C17 is isolated from the other data, the Chart Wizard uses only a single cell.

   2.   On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, click the Insert Bar or Column Chart button:

Insert Bar or Column Chart in Excel 365

Choose Clustered Column:

Clustered Column Charts in Excel 365

Excel creates a simple column chart with one column:

The clustered column chart in Excel 365

Format the chart

   3.   Remove unnecessary chart elements such as the horizontal (Category) axis and chart title.

   4.   To make the column occupy the entire width of the plot area, right-click on the column and choose Format Data Series... in the popup menu (or double-click on the column):

Format data series in popup menu Excel 365

On the Format Data Series pane, on the Series Options tab, in the Gap Width field, type or choose the appropriate value:

Gap width for chart in Excel 365

For this example, set the Gap Width to 0.

Format the axis

   5.   Right-click on the vertical axis and choose Format Axis... in the popup menu (or double-click on the axis):

Format Axis popup in Excel 365

On the Format Axis task pane, on the Axis Options tab, under Bounds:

  • In the Minimum field, set 0,
  • In the Maximum field, set:
    • 1 as a 100% if you use a percentage axis,
    • The Goal value (for this example, 1000):
Format Axis in Excel 365

You can also hide the zero point in the axis (see How to hide points on the chart axis) and the axis line.

Add the shape

   6.   On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, select Shapes:

Shape in Excel 365

   7.   On the Shapes list, in the Basic Shapes group, choose Oval or Chord:

Oval in Excel 365    Chord in Excel 365

   8.   Format the shape and insert the data label (see How to insert cell content to the shape).

See also how to freeze the chart and shape on the spreadsheet.

You can then make any other adjustments to get the look you desire.

See also this tip in French: Comment créer un graphique de thermomètre brillant.

Please, disable AdBlock and reload the page to continue

Today, 30% of our visitors use Ad-Block to block ads.We understand your pain with ads, but without ads, we won't be able to provide you with free content soon. If you need our content for work or study, please support our efforts and disable AdBlock for our site. As you will see, we have a lot of helpful information to share.