HOW TO CREATE RADAR CHART IN EXCEL

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

In this article, we are going to discuss one particular type of the chart which is known as a RADAR CHART in excel.

CHARTS are the graphic representation of any data . EXCEL provide us a number of visualization options in the form of different charts and graphs etc.

EXCEL gives us a variety of charts which are beautiful, colorful, more customizable and more powerful.

A RADAR CHART IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF CHART IN THE SHAPE OF A STAR WITH DIFFERENT VARIABLES OR PARAMETERS REPRESENTED ON THE AXES ARISING FROM THE SAME CENTER AND VALUES ARE PUT ON THE AXES.

In RADAR CHARTS, the values are shown on different axes.

We’ll discuss in detail, the information about the RADAR CHART and the way to create one in EXCEL.

WHAT IS A RADAR CHART IN EXCEL?

A RADAR CHART is a chart in the form of a star or a polygon with different parameters plotted on the axes which arise from a center and the values are shown on the axes. The values are then joined to the adjacent axes with the simple lines.

A sample RADAR CHART is shown below.

radar chart excel
RADAR CHART

[LOOK AT THE PICTURE ABOVE]

A RADAR CHART has different axes arising from a single point as it is clear in the chart above, all the axes are arising from 0.

The variable which are the height, weight and chest are marked for each and every student on respective axes.

After marking, all the values are joined together to form a polygon.

The radar chart is known by many other names such as

STAR CHART, STAR PLOT, COBWEB CHART, POLYGON CHART, POLAR CHART AND KIVIAT DIAGRAM ETC.

In the next section, we take a look upon the different apt situations where we can make use of RADAR CHARTS.

One star represent the variation among different series.



WHEN DO WE NEED RADAR CHARTS ?

A RADAR CHARTS should be used when

  • We want to represent a data with multiple variables. For example , the details of students’ height, weight and chest as shown in the picture above.
  • When we want to visually know the contribution of a parameter in a glance for every reading.
  •  We want to represent the PERFORMANCE METRICS showing the strengths and weaknesses.
  •  For Quality Control programs.

BUTTON LOCATION FOR INSERTING A RADAR CHART IN EXCEL

The RADAR CHART can be inserted through the INSERT MENU > CHART and choosing RADAR chart or by directly choosing the CHART BUTTON on the toolbar and then choosing the RADAR chart.

RADAR CHART BUTTON ON TOOLBAR

  1. The chart button is situated on the right portion.
  2. Click the button. Chart Editor will open. [1]
  3. Choose the RADAR CHART from the CHART TYPE DROP DOWN.[2]
  4. Click the RADAR CHART option.[3]
SELECT INSERT TAB AND CHOOSE RADAR CHARTS FROM WATERFALL CHART BUTTON


EXAMPLE TO MAKE RADAR CHART IN EXCEL

It is always easy to create a chart if we lay down the data properly.

Similarly, for the RADAR CHARTS, it is important to know the layout of the data for the perfect chart, as we require.

The FIRST COLUMN can be used to provide the LABELS. These will form axes.

The FIRST ROW will contain the CATEGORIES. These will be plotted on the axes and joined with each other to form a radar chart.

OTHER COLUMNS can be used to enter values.

A sample of the table and the radar chart for the table are shown below.

STUDENTHEIGHTWEIGHTCHEST
STUDENT 11235634
STUDENT 21425835
STUDENT 31125536
STUDENT 41323323
STUDENT 523110065

The RADAR CHART for the data is shown below. The steps to create the chart are discussed in the next section.

RADAR CHART

The radar chart is known by many other names such as

STAR CHART, STAR PLOT, COBWEB CHART, POLYGON CHART, POLAR CHART AND KIVIAT DIAGRAM ETC.

In the next section, we take a look upon the different apt situations where we can make use of RADAR CHARTS.

STEPS TO INSERT A RADAR CHART IN EXCEL

EXAMPLE DETAILS

  We can demonstrate the creation of a radar chart in Excel using an example.

We are taking the example of a class where we see the variation of height, weight and chest of students. [ The example is just for the learning purpose. It may not represent an apt situation to use radar chart.

Refer to the section WHEN DO WE NEED RADAR CHARTS for learning the situations where we can use RADAR CHARTS.  

STUDENTHEIGHTWEIGHTCHEST
STUDENT 11235634
STUDENT 21425835
STUDENT 31125536
STUDENT 41323323
STUDENT 523110065

The procedure to insert a RADAR chart are as follows:

STEPS TO MAKE A RADAR CHART IN EXCEL:

Follow the given steps to make a simple radar chart in Excel:

  1. The first requirement of any chart is data .  So create a table containing the data.  [ We have already created in the form of table above]
  2. Refer to our data above, where we have mentioned the weight, height and chest size of five students.
  3. Select the complete table including the HEADER NAMES.
  4. Go to INSERT TAB >  CHARTS SECTION > INSERT WATERFALL, FUNNEL, STOCK, SURFACE, OR RADAR CHART AND CHOOSE RADAR CHART.
  5. The chart will be created and shown to you in the following picture
STEPS TO CREATE A RADAR CHART IN EXCEL

    The final created chart is shown below.  

FINAL RADAR CHART

In this article, we learned about creating a radar chart in excel with the help of an example.