Create a Chart Template

Create a Chart Template

Save time by creating a reusable chart template based on an existing chart. 

When to use

We create a chart template so we can quickly apply the same chart properties such as layout and colors to other charts. 

Instructions

Creating an Excel Chart Template is an efficient way of applying the same chart formatting to other charts. 

When we create a template, we store the formatting and we can then apply that template over the top of any chart we create with similar data. 

Create a Chart Template

To create a chart template, we must first start with a chart that already contains the formatting we need to reuse.

For example, we want to use a modified version of the chart below as our chart template going forward. 

Let's make some formatting changes before we save as a template. 

Change Colors

• From the Chart Design tab, click Change Colors. 
• Choose a color palette from the list. 

Change the Gap Width

We can make the columns in the chart wider by decreasing the gap width between columns. 

• Click on the columns to select them. 
• Press CTRL+1. 
• From the Format Data Series pane, drag the Gap Width slider down to 72% to decrease the size. 

Change the Line Color

• Click on the line. 
• From the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the drop-down next to Shape Outline. 
• Choose yellow from the palette. 

Smoothed Line

• Click on the line. 
• From the Format Data Series pane, in the Fill section, scroll to the bottom and check the box next to Smoothed Line. 

Save Chart as a Template

• Right-click on the chart. 
• Click Save As Template. 

Excel will open the default templates folder in File Explorer. We highly recommend you save into this folder so the template is easy to find and access. 

• Name the file 'your initials - Chart Template'. 
• Click Save. 

Apply the Template to Other Charts

Let's now create another chart and apply the template. 

• Click in the data and press CTRL+A to select everything. 
• From the Insert tab, in the Charts group, click the column chart drop-down. 
• Choose 2-D Column Chart. 

This time we want to show the Profit by Date and Conversion Rate so we need to modify the chart data.  

• From the Chart Design tab, click Select Data. 
• In the Legend Entries area, deselect the Sales series. 
• Click OK. 
• Click Change Chart Type. 
• Select Combo and ensure the 'Profit' series shows as a Clustered Column and the 'Conversion Rate' shows as a Line. 
• Select the Secondary Axis checkbox next to the 'Conversion Rate' series. 
• Click OK. 

This chart has the same structure as the previous chart, we are just displaying different data. We can make it look the same by applying the chart template. 

• Select the chart. 
• From the Chart Design tab, in the Type group, click Change Chart Type. 
• On the All Charts tab, we have a Templates folder in the list. 
• Click on Templates. 
• Select the chart template to apply it. 
• Click OK.