How to Make a Histogram in Excel: 4 Easy Ways in 2026
A histogram shows how often values fall into ranges, called bins. To make a histogram in Excel, select one column of numbers, then choose Insert, then Insert Statistic Chart, then Histogram. Adjust the bins under Format Axis. You can also use the Analysis ToolPak, the FREQUENCY function with a column chart, or an AI tool.
This guide covers what a histogram is and how it differs from a bar chart. It then shows how to set up your data and walks through four ways to build one. The last sections cover reading the chart and common mistakes.
What a histogram is
A histogram summarizes how a set of numbers is spread out. Microsoft's definition is short: "A histogram is a column chart that shows frequency data."
The NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods gives the method. The range of the data is split "into equal-sized bins (called classes)." Then the number of points that fall into each bin is counted. The vertical axis shows the count, and the horizontal axis shows the values.
The handbook says a histogram shows five things about a data set:
- Center. Where most values sit.
- Spread. How far the values range.
- Skewness. Whether one tail is longer than the other.
- Outliers. Values far from the rest.
- Multiple modes. More than one peak, which can mean mixed groups.
Common uses include delivery times, test scores, order values, response times, and ages.
There are two common variants. A cumulative histogram adds each bin's count to the bins before it, so the last bar shows the total. A relative histogram shows shares instead of counts. The NIST handbook notes that relative counts sum to one, or to 100 on a percentage scale. Both variants are easy to build from a frequency table, which Ways 2 and 3 below produce.
Histogram vs. bar chart
A histogram looks like a column chart, but it answers a different question.
| Histogram | Bar or column chart | |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal axis | Numeric ranges (bins) | Categories, such as products or regions |
| Bar height | Count of values in each range | A value for each category |
| Gaps between bars | Usually none, since the ranges are continuous | Usually yes |
| Order of bars | Fixed by the numbers | Can be sorted any way |
| Typical question | How are the values distributed? | How do the categories compare? |
If your question is about categories, use a bar chart instead. Our bar chart guide covers that choice. If you want to compare distributions across groups, a box plot in Excel may be clearer.
How to set up your data first
Every method below starts from a single column of numbers. Put a header in the first cell and one value per row below it.
Here is an example you can copy. It shows delivery times in minutes for 20 orders. The numbers are invented.
| Order | Delivery time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | 18, 24, 31, 27, 35 |
| 6–10 | 22, 29, 41, 26, 33 |
| 11–15 | 19, 38, 28, 45, 30 |
| 16–20 | 25, 52, 32, 27, 36 |
In your worksheet, enter these 20 values in one column. Do not split them across columns as the table above does.
Two of the methods also need a bin column. Bins are the upper limits of each range, such as 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60. Microsoft explains the rule for the Histogram tool. A value counts in a bin when it is above the bin's lower bound. It must also be "equal to or less than the greatest bound for the data bin."
Before you build the chart, check that the column holds only numbers. Remove totals, text, and units typed into the cells.
Way 1: Insert a histogram chart
Excel has a built-in histogram chart in Excel 2016 and later, including Microsoft 365. Microsoft's support page gives the steps:
- Select your data.
- Select Insert, then Insert Statistic Chart, then Histogram.
- Use the Chart Design and Format tabs to change the look.
You can also find it on the All Charts tab under Recommended Charts. On a Mac, select the Insert tab, then the statistical chart icon, then Histogram.
Then add a chart title and axis titles. A good title states the finding, such as "Most deliveries take 20 to 40 minutes."
This is the fastest way to make a histogram in Excel. The chart updates when you change the numbers in the column.
How to set the bins
Excel picks the bins for you at first. Microsoft says the automatic bin width "is calculated using Scott's normal reference rule." You can change it.
Right-click the horizontal axis, select Format Axis, and then select Axis Options. The options are:
| Option | What it does, per Microsoft |
|---|---|
| By Category | Groups text categories instead of numbers |
| Automatic | The default; bin width uses Scott's normal reference rule |
| Bin width | Sets the size of each range |
| Number of bins | Sets how many bins, including overflow and underflow bins |
| Overflow bin | Groups all values above a number you choose |
| Underflow bin | Groups all values at or below a number you choose |
Bin width changes the story. Too few bins hide the shape. Too many bins make the chart look noisy. Try a width that gives five to ten bins, then compare.
Use overflow and underflow bins for rare extremes. In the example, an overflow bin above 50 keeps the 52-minute delivery from stretching the axis.
Way 2: Use the Analysis ToolPak
The Analysis ToolPak is a free Excel add-in for statistics. Microsoft says its Histogram tool "calculates individual and cumulative frequencies for a cell range of data and data bins."
First, load the add-in. On Windows, select File, then Options, then Add-Ins. In the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins and then Go. Check Analysis ToolPak and select OK. On a Mac, select Tools, then Excel Add-ins.
Then build the histogram:
- Enter your data column and your bin column.
- Select Data Analysis on the Data tab.
- Choose Histogram and select OK.
- Set the input range to your data and the bin range to your bins.
- Choose an output location, and check the box for chart output.
Microsoft says the output "shows a histogram table and a column chart that reflects the data in the histogram table." If you leave out the bin range, Excel creates evenly spaced bins between the smallest and largest values.
This method suits older versions of Excel and anyone who wants the frequency table as well as the chart. Note that the output does not update when the data changes. Run the tool again after an edit.
Way 3: Use the FREQUENCY function and a column chart
The FREQUENCY function counts values by range without any add-in. Microsoft says it "calculates how often values occur within a range of values, and then returns a vertical array of numbers."
The syntax is FREQUENCY(data_array, bins_array). Follow these steps:
- Enter your bins in a column, such as 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60.
- In the next column, enter =FREQUENCY(B2:B21, D2:D6), using your own ranges.
- Press Enter. In current Microsoft 365, the results spill down as a dynamic array.
- Select the bins and the counts, then insert a clustered column chart.
- Set the gap width to 0% so the bars touch.
One detail is easy to miss. Microsoft says the returned array has one more element than the bins. "The extra element in the returned array returns the count of any values above the highest interval." Label that extra row "Over 60" or similar.
In older versions of Excel, select the output cells first and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. Microsoft also notes that "FREQUENCY ignores blank cells and text."
This method updates automatically when the data changes. It also gives you full control over the bin labels.
Way 4: Make a histogram with AI
The first three ways assume clean data in one column. Often the numbers sit in a CSV export with other columns, or in several files that need combining first. An AI tool can do that preparation and draw the chart in one request.
Here is the method in three steps, using Powerdrill Bloom.
Step 1: Upload the Excel or CSV file
Start with the file that holds your numbers. The Free plan lists "Upload Excel, CSV, PDF, and docs." Upload the raw export rather than a hand-edited copy.
If the file has several sheets or columns, name the column you want in your first request. For example, "Use the Delivery time column on the Orders sheet."
Step 2: Describe the histogram in natural language
Describe the chart in one or two sentences. For example: "Make a histogram of delivery times with 10-minute bins from 10 to 60, and group anything over 60."
The Vibe Data Analysis page says you can "Explore your data using natural language and AI-powered code generation." So you can also ask follow-up questions. "What share of orders took more than 40 minutes?" or "Compare the histogram for weekdays and weekends."
Step 3: Check the bins and download the chart
Before you use the chart, check the bins and counts against the source. Ask for the frequency table behind the chart, and confirm that the total matches the number of rows. The Powerdrill Bloom homepage says "Every number comes back with the page, the row and the figure behind it."
For other views of the same column, the Box Plot Maker shows "the center, spread, and skewness of data." The AI Graph Maker covers bar, line, pie, and scatter charts.
How to make a histogram in Excel with two sets of data
Search suggestions often ask how to compare two groups, such as two warehouses or two test classes. The built-in chart in Way 1 plots one column at a time, so use one of these approaches.
Two charts with the same bins. Build a histogram for each group with Way 1. Then set the same bin width and the same axis range on both charts. Place them one above the other so the bins line up.
One clustered column chart. Use Way 3 instead. Enter one set of bins, then add a FREQUENCY formula for each group in its own column. Select the bins and both count columns, and insert a clustered column chart. Each bin then shows two bars side by side.
Percentages instead of counts. If the groups differ in size, divide each count by its group total. Comparing shares avoids making the larger group look more spread out than it is.
Whichever approach you pick, label the legend clearly and use two contrasting colors. A histogram in Excel with mismatched bins between groups is the most common error here, so check the bin settings twice.
How to read a histogram
Once the chart is built, read it with the questions the NIST handbook lists:
- Where are the data located? Find the tallest bars. In the example, most deliveries take 20 to 40 minutes.
- How spread out are the data? Look at the range from the first bar to the last.
- Are the data symmetric or skewed? A long tail on the right means a few values run much higher than the rest.
- Are there outliers in the data? A bar standing apart from the others, like the 52-minute delivery, deserves a look.
- Is there more than one peak? Two peaks can mean two groups mixed together, such as two warehouses.
For more on spotting unusual values, see our guide to finding outliers in a dataset.
Histogram mistakes to avoid
Watch for these before you share a histogram in Excel.
- Using it for categories. A histogram needs numbers. Use a bar chart for products, regions, or names.
- Bins that hide the shape. Two or three wide bins can make any data look the same. Try several widths.
- Uneven bins. Mixing 10-minute and 30-minute ranges distorts the bar heights. Keep every bin the same width unless you label the exception.
- Gaps between bars. In a column chart built from FREQUENCY, set the gap width to 0% so the ranges read as continuous.
- Missing the overflow count. FREQUENCY returns one extra value above the highest bin. Include it, or say why you left it out.
- No axis titles. Label the horizontal axis with the unit, such as minutes, and the vertical axis as the count.
Want to skip the setup? Try Powerdrill Bloom with one CSV export and ask for a histogram of the column you care about.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a histogram in Excel?
Select a column of numbers, then choose Insert, then Insert Statistic Chart, then Histogram. This works in Excel 2016 and later. To change the ranges, right-click the horizontal axis, select Format Axis, and set the bin width or number of bins.
How do I change the bin width in an Excel histogram?
Right-click the horizontal axis and select Format Axis. Under Axis Options, choose Bin width and enter a number, or choose Number of bins. You can also add overflow and underflow bins for values above or below a limit.
How do I make a histogram in Excel with the Analysis ToolPak?
Load the Analysis ToolPak from Excel Add-ins. Then select Data Analysis on the Data tab, choose Histogram, and set the input range and bin range. Check the chart output box to get a frequency table and a chart.
What is the difference between a histogram and a bar chart?
A histogram shows how numeric values are distributed across ranges, so its bars usually touch. A bar chart compares separate categories, such as products or regions. Use a histogram for distributions and a bar chart for comparisons.
Can AI make a histogram from my Excel file?
Yes. AI tools can read an Excel or CSV file and build a histogram from a request in natural language, including the bin width. Check the bins and counts against your source data before you share the chart.
Sources: Microsoft Support, Create a histogram · Microsoft Support, Use the Analysis ToolPak · Microsoft Support, Load the Analysis ToolPak in Excel · Microsoft Support, FREQUENCY function · NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods, Histogram.