How to use the Bar Graph Maker
- Put category names in the first column (e.g. months or treatments) and values in the next columns.
- Choose "Bar". Each extra value column becomes another bar in each group.
- Optionally choose an error column or a fixed/percentage error.
- Download the bar chart as SVG, PDF or PNG.
Grouped bar charts
With more than one value column, bars are grouped side by side for each category: for example 2025 and 2026 values for each month, or control and treatment for each sample. The legend is added automatically.
Bar graph with error bars
Scientific bar charts usually show the mean with standard deviation or standard error. Put the error values in a column next to each value column (name it SD, SE or Error and it is detected automatically), or set a fixed or percentage error for all bars.
Bar graph vs histogram
A bar graph compares separate categories, so the bars have gaps and their order can be changed. A histogram shows the distribution of one continuous variable, so the bars touch and the X axis is a number scale. If you have raw measurements rather than category totals, you probably want a histogram.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a double bar graph?
- Use three columns: category, first value, second value. Each category gets two bars side by side.
- Can I print the bar chart in black and white?
- Yes. Choose the "Black & white" palette. Bars use white, gray and black fills with black outlines, which stay distinct when printed.
- Does the Y axis start at zero?
- Yes, by default bar charts include zero so bar heights are proportional. You can set a different minimum under Axes.
- Is my data private?
- No. Your data never leaves your browser. Plotiq parses and plots files locally with JavaScript, so nothing is uploaded to a server.
Last updated: · by the Plotiq team