Column Sparklines

Column sparklines are small bar charts that display data as vertical bars to show trends or comparisons over time or across categories. Each bar represents a single value, such as daily sales, monthly revenue, or website visits.

When to use column sparklines

• Highlighting outliers or peaks: Quickly identify unusually high or low values.
• Comparing values: Display performance across time periods or categories, such as daily sales or monthly expenses.
• Showing trends in a compact format: Track changes over time—like monthly revenue or weekly performance—while keeping the visual footprint small.

Create a column sparkline

1. On the Insert tab, select Sparklines.
2. Under Bar Sparkline, choose Insert Column Sparkline. The Create Sparklines dialog opens.
3. In Data Range, select a continuous range of cells (in the same row or column).
4. In Location Range, select the cell where the sparkline will appear.
5. Uncheck isFormulaSparkline if you do not want the sparkline to be saved as a formula. This removes the formula from the formula bar (fx) and enables the Sparkline ribbon controls.
6. Click Ok. The sparkline is inserted into the selected cell.

Edit a column sparkline

Sparkline is saved as a formula

1. Select the column sparkline in your workbook.
2. On the Sparkline tab, select Settings. The ColumnSparkline Setting dialog opens.
3. Adjust the parameters, then click Ok.
4. Copy and paste the sparkline cell to duplicate the configuration in another location, as needed.

Sparkline is not saved as a formula

When the isFormulaSparkline option is unchecked during creation, the sparkline is no longer controlled by a formula. The Settings button is replaced by direct ribbon controls.

1. Select the column sparkline in your workbook.
2. Use the Sparkline tab to customize the sparkline:
   • Change the sparkline type (Line, Column, or Win/Loss).
   • Show or hide specific value points (first, last, high, low, negative).
   • Apply custom marker and axis styles.
   • Adjust sparkline and marker colors, and line thickness.
3. To highlight values, enable the Markers option and select which points to display.

Column sparkline parameters

The column sparkline formula supports the following format:

=COLUMNSPARKLINE(data, dataOrientation, dateAxisData, dateAxisOrientation, setting)

Data

Parameter	Description
Data	Define the range containing sparkline data, such as A1:C3.
DataOrientation	Set the data orientation: Vertical or Horizontal.
DateAxisData	(Optional) Define the date axis range, such as D1:F3.
DateAxisOrientation	(Optional) Set the date axis orientation: Vertical or Horizontal.
DisplayEmptyCellsAs	Specify how to display empty cells: Gaps, Zero, or Connect.
Show data in hidden rows and columns	(Optional) Display data from hidden rows and columns.

Show

Parameter	Description
Show First	Highlight the first data point using a different format.
Show Last	Highlight the last data point using a different format.
Show High	Apply distinct formatting to the highest value.
Show Low	Apply distinct formatting to the lowest value.
Show Negative	Apply distinct formatting to negative values.
Show Markers	Display data markers for each sparkline.

Group

Parameter	Description
MinAxisType	Define the minimum axis type: Individual or Custom.
ManualMin	Set a custom minimum value when MinAxisType is Custom, such as -3.
MaxAxisType	Define the maximum axis type: Individual or Custom.
ManualMax	Set a custom maximum value when MaxAxisType is Custom, such as 5.
RightToLeft	Display the group direction from right to left instead of left to right.
Display XAxis	Show or hide the X-axis for the group.

Style

Parameter

Description

Style Setting

Define the color or line weight for each visual element: Negative – Set the color of negative data points. Markers – Set the color of data markers. Axis – Set the color of the axis. Series – Set the color of each sparkline in the group. High Marker – Set the color of the highest data point. Low – Set the color of the lowest data point. First Marker – Set the color of the first data point. Last Marker – Set the color of the last data point. Line Weight – Set the thickness of the line.