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How to Add Error Bars in Google Sheets [Easiest Steps]

Inserting error bars is easy peasy if you follow our quick instructions

2 min. read

Updated onNovember 20, 2023

updated onNovember 20, 2023

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You came to the right place if you’ve ever wondered how to add error bars in Google Sheets.

Like in Microsoft Excel, Sheets also allows you to display error bars inside a document. The error bars are graphical representations of the different data introduced in the software.

This option allows you to see an objective representation of your data to observe any measurement differences.

In this article, we will explore the best way to add error bars inside your Google Sheets documents. Read on to find out more.

How can I add error bars in Google Sheets?

How can I add error bars in Google Sheets?

1. Create a graph and check the Error bars option

In order to add error bars on your graph in Google Sheets, you have to select the option from the chart editor. See the entire process below to apply it on your spreadsheet.

  1. Check to see if you have the correct data inserted inside your Sheets document.

  2. If the data is correct, select a blank cell and click on the buttonInsert chartfound at the top-right corner of your Sheets window.

  3. A new pop-up will appear on the screen without any values being selected.

  4. Click theX-axisof your document, then select the cells you want to use for the X-axis -> pressOk.

  5. Click onSeries-> Select the cell (do this for all the series you want to use in your error bars).

6.Sheets will automatically assign different colors to the specific values you entered (if there aren’t any different colors then it means that your data is not inserted correctly).

  1. Select theCustomize tab->Expand series-> Tick the box next to theError barsoption -> Choose a percentage or exact value from the drop-down menu.

  2. After this process is completed ->Save your document.

  3. If you expand your graph you will now be able to see the error bars represented.

2. Add standard deviation error bars in Google Sheets

Today’s how-to article discussed the best way to add error bars inside your Google Sheets documents. This option will enable you to visually observe any differences in values, represented as a graph.

We hope this guide helped you understand how to add these essential elements to your documents.

If interested, check out this guide to learn a few tips to fixFormula Parse Error On Google Sheetsto save you time.

Please feel free to let us know if this guide helped with a clear answer by using the comment section found below.

If you want to read more about Google Sheets, go ahead and visit ourGoogle Sheets section.

There are more than a handful of collaboration apps from Google. Read our articles about them in ourGoogle Teamwork Hub.

More about the topics:Google Sheets

Vladimir Popescu

Being an artist his entire life while also playing handball at a professional level, Vladimir has also developed a passion for all things computer-related.

With an innate fascination for research and analysis, and realizing many other people share his passion for this subject, he delved into writing Windows-related articles, so other people can also benefit from the acquired information.

When not writing kick-ass articles, Vladimir likes to spend his time doing Crossfit and creating art.

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