Excel Graph with custom standard deviation

Tony Stark picture Tony Stark · Apr 27, 2011 · Viewed 14k times · Source

I have 2 columns, one with my data points, other with the standard deviation for each data point. How do I make a line plot on excel with error bars equal to each point's perspective standard deviation?

e.g.

Col-1  Col-2
1      0.1
2      0.2
3      0.1

Answer

Alex P picture Alex P · Apr 27, 2011

Do the following (based on your sample data given above)

  1. Create a line chart using your values in Col-1 (i.e. 1,2,3)
  2. On chart, place cursor over the line and right-click and select 'Format data series'
  3. In the dialog box select 'Y error bars'
  4. In 'Display' select 'Both'
  5. Select 'Custom' in the 'Error Amount' section
  6. In the '+' and '-' sections use the data selection button to select Col-2 (0.1, 0.2, 0.1)
  7. Hit 'Ok'.

You should now have a line chart with the appropriate error bars