A histogram groups your numbers into ranges and shows you how many fall into each one
A histogram is a chart that takes a list of numbers — like test scores, monthly sales, or customer ages — and sorts them into buckets. Each bucket covers a range (for example, 0–10, 11–20, 21–30), and the chart shows how many numbers landed in each bucket. It answers questions like "How many customers are between 25 and 35 years old?" or "Are most of my sales clustered around one price point, or spread all over?"
Excel can build a histogram for you in a few clicks, but the steps differ slightly depending on which version you have. The method below works in Excel 2016 and later on Windows and Mac. If you have an older version, you may need to use a workaround involving pivot tables or manual formulas — we cover that at the end.
Key Takeaways
- Excel's histogram tool (called a column chart with bins) groups your data automatically and shows the count in each range.
- You need one column of numbers; Excel will create the ranges for you unless you want to set them manually.
- The histogram appears as a chart object you can move, resize, and format like any other Excel chart.
- If your version of Excel does not have the built-in histogram tool, you can create one using a pivot table or the FREQUENCY function.
Prepare your data in a single column
Open your spreadsheet and put all the numbers you want to analyze in one column. For example, if you are tracking customer ages, put each age in its own cell, one below the other. You can include a header at the top (like "Age") — Excel will skip it automatically.
The data does not have to be sorted, and it does not matter if there are gaps or blank cells mixed in. Excel will ignore blanks and work with whatever numbers it finds. If your data is spread across multiple columns or mixed with text, move the numbers you want to chart into a single clean column first.
Select your data and open the Insert Chart dialog
Click on the first cell of your data (including the header if you have one) and drag down to the last cell with a number. Or click the first cell, hold Shift, and click the last cell. The entire range should be highlighted in blue.
Go to the Insert tab at the top of the ribbon. Click Chart (or Insert Chart on a Mac). A dialog box will open showing different chart types on the left side.
Choose the histogram chart type
In the chart type list on the left, look for Histogram. Click it. You should see a preview of what the chart will look like — it will show vertical bars grouped into ranges.
If you do not see a Histogram option, you have an older version of Excel. Skip to the section "If your Excel version does not have a built-in histogram" below.
Set the bin width (optional but useful)
After you select Histogram, a second panel appears on the right. This is where you control how wide each bucket (called a bin) is. By default, Excel picks a bin width automatically — often a reasonable choice, but not always what you want.
If you want to change it, look for the Bin Width field. Type a number — for example, if your data ranges from 0 to 100 and you want buckets of 10, type 10. If you want Excel to decide, leave it blank or set it to "Auto". You can also set the minimum and maximum values for the chart if you want to focus on a specific range.
Finish and place the chart
Click OK or Create at the bottom of the dialog. Excel will build the histogram and place it on your spreadsheet. The chart is now an object — you can click it to select it, then drag it to move it or resize it by pulling the corners.
To edit the chart later, double-click it. The dialog will reopen and you can change the bin width, axis labels, title, or colors. When you are done editing, click outside the chart to close it.
If your Excel version does not have a built-in histogram
Older versions of Excel (2013 and earlier) do not have a dedicated histogram tool. You have two workarounds: use a pivot table or use the FREQUENCY function with a column chart.
The pivot table method is simpler if you are comfortable with pivot tables. Create a pivot table from your data, put your numbers in the Row Labels area, and put them in the Values area as well (set to Count). Then create a column chart from the pivot table. This groups your data and shows counts, though you have less control over the bin ranges.
The FREQUENCY method requires more setup. Create a separate column with the upper limits of each bin you want (for example, 10, 20, 30, 40 if you want buckets of 10). In another column, use the formula =FREQUENCY(data_range, bin_range) — replace data_range with your original numbers and bin_range with your bin limits. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter (not just Enter) to make it work. Then create a column chart from the results. This gives you full control but takes longer to set up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the colors or labels on the histogram after I create it?
Yes. Double-click the chart to enter edit mode. Right-click on the bars to change their color or style. Click the chart title to edit it. The axis labels can be changed by right-clicking the axis itself. When you are done, click outside the chart to close it.
What if I want to compare two sets of numbers on the same histogram?
The built-in histogram tool works with one column at a time. To compare two sets, create two separate histograms or use a pivot table that includes both data sets. A pivot table lets you group both sets by the same bins and show them side by side.
How do I know what bin width to use?
Start with Excel's automatic choice and see if it tells you what you need to know. If the bars are too clumpy (all data in one or two buckets), make the bin width smaller. If they are too spread out (one or two numbers per bucket), make it larger. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 5 to 15 bars total.
Can I export the histogram to use in a presentation or document?
Yes. Right-click the chart and select Copy. Then paste it into Word, PowerPoint, or any other program. You can also right-click and choose Save as Picture to save it as an image file.