Error bars in the charts you create can assist you see standard deviations and margins of error at a glance. You can see them aon all data markers or data points in a data series. These error bars on data markers or data points are as a percentage, a standard error amount, or standard deviation. You are free to set your own values to display your desired error amounts. For instance, you can show a 20 plus or minus error amount in your scientific experiment results like the one mentioned below:
You can utilize error bars in bar, 2-D area, xy (scatter), line, column, and bubble charts. In bubble and scatter charts, you can display error bars for x and y values.
Add Error Bars in Excel on Windows PC
Step 1. Tap at any place in the chart.
Step 2. Now, tap on the Chart Elements tab that lies next to the chart.
Step 3. Check the box against Error Bars under the Chart Elements window.
Step 4. Tap the arrow against Error Bars and choose an option for changing the displayed error amount.
Step 5. Choose a predefined bar option – Percentage, Standard Error, or Standard Deviation.
Step 6. To set your error bar amounts, choose More Options.
Choose your desired option under Horizontal Error Bar or Vertical Error Bar. Here you can change the end style, direction of the error bars or create personalized error bars.
Note – These steps are applicable to Excel in MS Office 2013 or newer versions and cannot work for the older MS office version.
Add Error Bars in Excel on macOS PC
Step 1. Go to a chart and choose the data series you are willing to add bars to.
Step 2. Tap the Add Chart Element option on the Chart Design tab.
Step 3. Point to Error Bars. After that, either click to Percentage, Standard Error, or Standard Deviation.
