Side by side comparison bar chart

On a double bar chart, two bars are drawn in parallel for each dataset:

Of course, using this approach, you can display multiple datasets in grouped horizontal columns (see how to create small multiple bars). See also the side-by-side comparison chart with differences:

To create a side-by-side chart in Excel, do the following:

   1.   Prepare the data

For example, a chart must be created for some survey data in several departments of an enterprise:

   1.1.   Define two new values:

• Major - grid size for the chart, according to which the axes will need to be aligned (in this example, 10),
• Gap - minimum size between data columns (in this example, 5).

   1.2.   Calculate the width of the first column using the following formula:

   1.3.   Add a new column between two data series to calculate the gap between them by the following formula:

= Calculated width in the previous step minus the current dataset value:

   2.   Create a chart

   2.1.   Select the data range (in this example, B2:E6).

   2.2.   On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, choose the Insert Column or Bar Chart button:

From the Insert Column or Bar Chart dropdown list, under 2-D Bar, select Stacked Bar:

Excel creates a simple stacked bar chart:

   3.   Format the vertical axis

   3.1.   Right-click on the vertical axis and choose Format Axis... in the popup menu:

   3.2.   On the Format Axis pane, on the Axis Options tab, in the Axis Options section:

• Under Horizontal axis crosses, select the At maximum category option,
• At the end of the section, check the Categories in reverse order checkbox:

   4.   Optionally, format the legend

   4.1.   Do one of the following:

• On the Chart Design tab, in the Data group, click the Select Data button:
  
• Right-click on the chart plot area and choose Select Data... in the popup menu:
  

   4.2.   In the Select Data Source dialog box, select the added data series (in this example, Empty), then under Legend Entries (Series), click the Edit button:

   4.3.   In the Edit Series dialog box, in the Series name field, type the empty symbols (in this example, ten spaces - " "), then click OK:

On the chart, the legend displays the empty label instead of the unnecessary one:

   5.   Format the data series

   5.1.   Right-click on the first data series and choose Format Data Series... in the popup menu:

   5.2.   On the Format Data Series pane, on the Fill & Line tab:

• For every data series, select the appropriate filling option (see more about filling options in Microsoft).
• For the gap data series:
  • In the Fill section, select the No fill option,
  • In the Border section, select the No line option:

   5.3.   Optionally, on the Format Data Series pane, on the Series Options tab, in the Gap Width field, choose the value you like. For example, 50%:

   5.4.   Type the chart title, remove the unnecessary label from the legend, move the legend, then make any other adjustments you desire:

   6.   Add data labels

To add data labels to the chart, do one of the following:

• Click on the Chart Elements button, select the Data Labels list, then select the position of the labels:
  
• On the Chart Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button:
  

  From the Add Chart Element dropdown list, choose Data Labels, then select the place for the labels:

  

Remove unnecessary labels:

   7.   Format the horizontal axis

Choose one of the options:

• Hide the horizontal axis labels,
• Format the horizontal axis labels.

Make any other adjustments you desire.