How to Create an Arrow Chart – Excel

This tutorial will demonstrate how to create an Arrow Chart in Excel.

How to Create an Arrow Chart – Excel

We’ll start with a dataset that shows the number of items sold in the last two years.

 

Blank Column

First, create a column titled “Blank” and calculate the Minimum value with the MIN Function:

=MIN(Year 1, Year 2)

 

 

Decrease Column

Next, we’ll add a “Decrease” column with a MAX formula:

=MAX(0,Year 1-Year 2)

 

 

Increase Column

Next, we’ll add an “Increase” column with formula:

=MAX(0,Year 2-Year 1)

 

 

Create a Graph

Highlight the Item Column and then press CTRL while highlighting the other three columns as shown below.

 

1. After highlighting the columns, select Insert
2. Select Bar Graph
3. Select the Stacked Bar Graph

 

The graph will look similar to the one below.

 

4. Right click on the Y Axis

5. Select Format Axis

 

6. Select Graph Icon

7. Check Categories in reverse order

 

Update Graph

1. Click on Blank Bars
2. Select Format
3. Click Shape Fill
4. Change to No Fill

 

Your graph should look similar to the one below.

 

Adding Arrows

1. Click Insert
2. Select Shapes
3. Click Arrow: Right and drag is somewhere on the workbook. Then do the same for Arrow: Left.

 

Customizing the Arrows

1. Click on one of the Arrows
2. Select Shape Format
3. Click Shape Fill to change the color of one of the arrows

 

Adding Arrows to the Chart

1. Click on the Increase Arrow and copy (CTRL + C)
2. Click on the Increase Dataset and paste (CTRL + V). Repeat these for the decrease datasets as well.

This will add the arrows to the chart: