How to Make Publication Quality Graphs in Excel

Learning to clean your data and run the appropriate statistical tests in your program of choice is challenge enough. When it comes to producing graphs for your posters and publications, it can be frustrating to learn how to code to get exactly the graph you want. 

Using Microsoft Excel to produce graphs can open up a whole new world for you. Easily organizing your data from columns to rows, adjusting categories and axes in real-time can streamline the entire process. 

While the default figures left much to be desired, this post will summarize several ways to strategically change the aesthetics to create publication quality graphics.​

For details on how to transform your Excel graphs from lackluster to publication-read, download the PDF below

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summary

1. Make sure your data is in the right format for inserting a chart
2. Change font from default Calibri to Arial, and change all font from gray to black
3. Add X- and Y-axes lines in black
4. Add axis titles
5. Change colors and patterns of graph for optimal design

Optional

• Add secondary Y-axis if needed
• Change units if needed

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About the Author

Bailey DeBarmore is a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying epidemiology. Find her on Twitter@BaileyDeBarmore and blogging for the American Heart Association on the Early Career Voice blog. ​​