How to create Butterfly Chart in Excel | Tornado Chart in Excel
#How to Create a Butterfly Chart in Excel: Step-by-Step Guide
Butterfly charts, also known as tornado charts or barbell charts, are powerful data visualization tools that allow you to compare the positive and negative impacts of different categories or variables. They are particularly useful for showcasing the before-and-after effects of a change, such as the performance of two products before and after a marketing campaign. In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to create a butterfly chart in Microsoft Excel.
Step 1: Prepare Your Data
Step 2: Insert a Bar Chart
Step 3: Adjust the Chart
Your chart will initially look like a clustered bar chart, which isn't the same as a butterfly chart. You'll need to make some adjustments:
1. Click on the chart to select it.
2. Go to the "Chart Elements" button (the plus sign icon) that appears when you hover over the chart.
3. Add "Data Labels" to your bars by checking the "Data Labels" option. This will display the values on each bar.
4. Next, remove the legend by clicking on it and pressing the "Delete" key.
5. Click on the horizontal axis labels (usually on the bottom) and press the "Delete" key to remove them as well.
Step 4: Format the Chart
Now, let's format the chart to make it look more like a butterfly chart:
1. Click on the "Increase" bars (the bars on the left side of the chart).
2. Go to the "Format" tab in the Excel ribbon.
3. In the "Shape Fill" dropdown, choose a color for the "Increase" bars.
4. Adjust the "Gap Width" in the "Format Data Series" pane on the right to make the "Increase" bars thinner if desired.
Repeat the same steps for the "Decrease" bars (the bars on the right side of the chart).
Step 5: Arrange the Bars
To make your chart resemble a butterfly, you'll need to arrange the bars properly:
1. Click on one of the "Increase" bars to select them all.
2. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the "Increase" bars to the left side of the chart.
3. Click on one of the "Decrease" bars to select them all.
4. Move the "Decrease" bars to the right side of the chart.
Step 6: Final Touches
To complete your butterfly chart, you can make some final adjustments and add labels:
1. Add a title to your chart by clicking on the chart title and typing in your desired title.
2. You can also label your axes and provide a source or additional information as needed.
Congratulations! You've successfully created a butterfly chart in Excel to visualize the positive and negative impacts of different categories or variables.