How to Add Vertical Error Bars in Excel (Easiest Way in 2025)

In this article, we will show you how to add vertical error bars in Excel. Simply follow the steps below.

Insert Vertical Error Bars in Excel

To insert vertical error bars in Excel, simply follow the process below.

1. Organize Your Data in Excel

Arrange your data in Excel. For this example, place subjects in one column and their average test scores in the next column. Include a third column for error values, which represent the variability of each score.

2. Create a Column Bar Chart

Select only the columns with subjects and average scores (not the error values). Go to the ‘Insert’ tab and choose a column bar chart from the ‘Charts’ group. This will display the average scores across different subjects.

3. Add Error Bars to Your Chart

With your chart selected, go to the ‘Chart Design’ tab on the Excel ribbon. Click on ‘Add Chart Element,’ then hover over ‘Error Bars’ and select ‘More Error Bars Options.’

From the ‘Add Error Bars’ dialogue box, choose ‘Average Score.’

4. Set Custom Error Amounts

In the ‘Format Error Bars’ pane, choose ‘Custom’ under ‘Error Amount’ and click ‘Specify Value.’

Enter the range of your error margins for the ‘Positive Error Value’ and ‘Negative Error Value.’ Click ‘OK’ to apply these custom error margins to your chart.

5. Review and Finalize Your Chart

Finally, review your chart to ensure the error bars correctly represent the variability in your data. Make any necessary adjustments to improve clarity and visual appeal.

We hope you now have a better understanding of how to add vertical error bars in Excel. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to remove horizontal error bars in Excel or our article on how to show the toolbar in Excel.