How to make it here
- Paste a list of numbers, or drop an Excel or CSV file and pick a numeric column.
- Adjust the number of bars (bins). SheetGlance suggests a starting number from your data.
- Read the summary statistics and copy the histogram.
What is a histogram?
A histogram splits a range of numbers into equal intervals, called bins, and draws a bar for how many values fall into each bin. Unlike a bar graph, the bars touch, because the bins are next to each other on one continuous scale.
A histogram answers questions a single average can’t: are most values close to the middle? Is the data lopsided? Are there two groups? Are there values far from the rest?
How to read a histogram
- Centre: where the tallest bars are. Compare it with the mean and median shown under the chart.
- Spread: a wide histogram means values vary a lot; the standard deviation puts a number on it.
- Shape: a long tail to the right (skewed right) is common for prices, incomes and waiting times; there the median is a better “typical value” than the mean.
- Two peaks: often means two different groups are mixed, such as weekday and weekend orders.
- Isolated bars: values far from the rest are worth checking. A box plot marks them as outliers.
How many bins should a histogram have?
There is no single right number. Common rules of thumb are the square root of the number of values, or Sturges’ rule (about 1 + log₂ n). With 100 values, both suggest roughly 8–10 bins. SheetGlance starts from a suggestion like this, and you can change it from 3 to 30.
Too few bins hide the shape; too many make the chart look like noise. Try a few settings: if the overall shape stays the same, you can trust it.
How to make a histogram in Excel
- Select the column of numbers.
- In Excel 2016 or later, go to Insert → Charts → Insert Statistic Chart → Histogram.
- Right-click the horizontal axis and choose Format Axis to set the Bin width or Number of bins.
In older versions, enable the Analysis ToolPak and use Data → Data Analysis → Histogram, which needs a separate column of bin limits. Excel doesn’t list the mean, median and quartiles next to the chart; SheetGlance shows them automatically.
How to make a histogram in Google Sheets
- Select the column and choose Insert → Chart.
- Under Setup → Chart type, choose Histogram chart.
- Under Customise → Histogram, set the Bucket size to control the bin width.
Histogram or bar graph?
Use a histogram for one numeric variable, such as test scores or delivery times, where the bins are ranges on a number line. Use a bar graph for separate categories, such as subjects or stores, where each bar is its own thing and the order can change.
Questions people ask
Which statistics are shown?
The count, mean, median, standard deviation, minimum, first and third quartiles, and maximum, in a table you can copy into Excel.
Can I make a histogram from a column in a bigger table?
Yes. Drop the whole spreadsheet and choose which numeric column to plot.
What if my numbers include text like “kg” or “$”?
Common units and currency signs are removed when the numbers are read, so “$1,200” and “72 kg” both work.
Can I compare two groups in one histogram?
For comparing groups, a box plot is clearer: it shows the median and spread of each group side by side.