How to make a chart
- Pick a chart. Choose the kind of chart in step 1. The data table then fills with a small example, so you can see what goes where.
- Add your data. Type over the example, paste cells from Excel or Google Sheets, or open an .xlsx, .xls or .csv file. The chart beside the table changes as you type.
- Design and download. In step 3, choose a style, colours, titles and labels. Then download the chart as a PNG picture or an SVG file, or copy it straight into another program.
You can go back to any step at any time. Changing the chart type keeps your data, as long as it has the columns the new chart needs.
Enter or import your data
The data table works like a small spreadsheet. Enter moves down and Tab moves right. Paste a block of cells into the first cell and it replaces the whole table; paste into any other cell and it fills in from there. You can also drag a spreadsheet file onto the table.
Name each column in its header: for most charts, the first column holds the names (months, places, products) and every other column is one series — one set of bars, one line or one set of points. The header name becomes the legend label, and the small box beside it sets that series’ colour.
Big files are fine. The table shows the first 500 rows, but the chart uses every row, and a note says how many there are. Copy puts the whole table back on your clipboard.
Which chart should I pick?
| Chart | Good for | Your data |
|---|---|---|
| Bar chart | Comparing amounts across categories | Names, then one column of numbers per series |
| Line chart | Change over time | Times (months, years), then the numbers |
| Area chart | Change over time when the total matters | Like a line chart |
| Scatter chart | How two numbers move together | X numbers, then Y numbers |
| Pie or doughnut chart | Parts of a whole, with only a few parts | Names, then one column of numbers |
| Polar chart | Values that go round in a cycle — months, compass directions | Names, then numbers |
| Bubble chart | Three numbers at once: position and size | X, Y, Size, and optional Group and Name |
| 3D bubble chart | Four numbers: a position in 3D plus size | X, Y, Z, Size, Group, Name |
| 3D scatter chart | Points in 3D space | X, Y, Z, Group, Name |
Each link opens a page about that one chart, with its own tips and questions. With many small slices a pie chart gets hard to read — a bar chart is usually clearer.
Make it look right
Step 3 puts every setting beside the chart, so you see each change at once.
- Style: Classic, Transparent, Matte metal, Brushed metal, High gloss or Glass for bars and pies; Ball and Ball shadow for bubbles. Most charts also have a 3D look — drag the chart to turn it.
- Colours: six palettes, including one that people with colour-blindness can tell apart, plus any background colour. In a bar, line, area or scatter chart each series also takes the colour from the box in its column header.
- Titles and labels: a title with its own size, colour and effect (glow, shadow, neon, glassy or outline), axis titles, numbers on the bars or slices, and a legend on the right or at the top.
- Text size: make all the text on the chart smaller or larger. On a phone it is enlarged for you so the chart stays readable.
Download and use your chart
- PNG is a picture, saved at twice the size you see so it stays sharp. Use it in documents, slides, e-mails and social media.
- SVG is a vector file: it stays crisp at any size and can be edited in programs such as Inkscape, Illustrator or PowerPoint.
- Copy image puts the chart on your clipboard, ready to paste into Word, PowerPoint, Google Slides or an e-mail.
- Print with your browser (Ctrl+P, or ⌘+P on a Mac) prints just the chart. Choose “Save as PDF” there for a PDF.
Chart or graph – what’s the difference?
In everyday use the two words mean almost the same thing, and this tool is a chart maker and a graph maker at once. Strictly, a graph plots values against axes — a bar graph, a line graph or a scatter graph. Chart is the wider word: it covers graphs, and also pictures without axes, such as a pie chart or a doughnut chart.
Frequently asked questions
Is this chart maker free? Do I need an account?
It is free, and there is no sign-up or login. Open the page, pick a chart and start typing your data.
Can I paste my data from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy the cells in Excel or Google Sheets and paste them into the first cell of the table — each value lands in its own cell. You can also open an .xlsx, .xls or .csv file, or drag it onto the table. If your data is separated by commas or spaces instead of tabs, tick them under Paste options.
How do I download my chart?
Use the buttons under the chart: Download PNG saves a picture, Download SVG saves a vector file that stays sharp at any size, and Copy image puts the picture on your clipboard so you can paste it into another program. The same three buttons also appear in the top corner of the chart when you point at it.
Why is there a small “statskingdom.com” on my chart?
A small statskingdom.com mark sits in the bottom corner of every chart, and it is part of the downloaded image. It tells readers where the chart was made, like a photo credit.
Can I make 3D charts?
Yes. Bar, line, area, scatter, pie and bubble charts have a 3D look with adjustable depth, and you can turn them by dragging. The 3D bubble chart and the 3D scatter chart are fully three-dimensional: they plot X, Y and Z values and can be turned to any angle.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The chart is drawn in your own browser, and an imported file is read there too. Your last chart is remembered in this browser only — press Last run in step 2 to bring it back.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The steps stack on a small screen, the chart’s text is enlarged so it stays readable, and you can paste data from a spreadsheet app. A bigger screen is easier for fine-tuning a 3D angle.