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How to Make Radar Charts In Google Sheets

May 8, 2024

Unsure which chart type to use? Click here to find the right chart for your data and the ideas that you want to convey.


A radar chart is useful for comparing  two or more entities based on several parameters in a two-dimensional manner. It can be a better visualization than column charts as it can easily depict multiple variables without creating confusion. Radar charts are also referred to as web, polar, star, or spider charts.

Image: Sample Radar Chart


A radar chart has a center point which is the core located at the center of the chart. From the center point, axes are drawn. These represent the variables and are given names and values. The grids are then formed after linking the axes, and it divides the graph for better presentation. 

 

In this tutorial, we will learn how to make and customize radar charts in Google Sheets.

How to format data for radar charts

The format is straightforward. 

  • First column: labels of the radar charts
  • First row: categories
  • The intersection of the row and column entries: values 
Image: Sample dataset showing the three employees’ scores in nine attributes 

How to add a radar chart

Step 1: Select the data. Do not forget to select the row and column headings.

Image: Data selected


Step 2. Go to Insert, then click Chart.

Image: Insert menu selected. The chart option is highlighted.


Or look at the near end of the main toolbar and click the chart icon.

Image: Insert chart icon. It is located near the right end of the main toolbar. 


Step 3. Google Sheets will automatically create a graph based on your data. If the chart is not on the radar chart type, go to the Chart Editor, which pops out at the right side of your google sheet. Select Setup. Under chart type, click the drop-down menu, then scroll down and look for the radar chart located under the subsection Other.

Image: Setup tab under Chart Editor. Radar chart under the section Other in Chart type. 


If you accidentally closed the Chart editor, you can still open it by selecting the chart on your sheet. Click on the vertical ellipsis icon located at the upper right corner of your chart. Select Edit chart. 

Step 4. You now have a radar chart where data points are drawn clockwise.

Image: Radar chart of our data set.

How to customize the radar chart

Adding labels to your radar charts

Initially, Google Sheets do not label your radar charts. To add the labels, go to Setup. Then, tick on Use Column A as labels. Column headings may change depending on the location of your data set. If the labels are not shown correctly or missing, drag on the four edges of your graph until all of the data labels are shown. 

Image: Use column A as labels, ticked.


GIF: Dragging an edge of the radar chart to organize the labels


Smooth and non-smooth radar charts

If you do not want the lines of your radar charts to be smooth, just tick off the Smooth under the Customize tab. 

Image: Non-smooth radar charts


Still, it’s up to you when to use the smooth and non-smooth lines. Just always make sure that the chart presents the idea or story you want to communicate. 

Adding a chart and axis titles

You can add and change the chart and axes titles by going to the Customize tab of the Chart Editor. Select a title to change from  the drop-down menu of the Title type selector under the Chart and axis titles option. You can also modify the corresponding font size, font style, format, and color of the titles.

Image: Customize tab of the Chart Editor. Under chart and axis titles, you can also edit the font, font size, format, and text color. 


Image: Radar chart after adding and formatting the chart title


Changing the formats of the legend

To format the legend, click on Legend under the Customize tab. Its position, font style, font size, and font color can be modified here. 


Image: Formatting the legend options

Changing the series colors

To change the colors of each category in your radar chart, go to Series under the Customize tab. Choose the series or categories you wish to modify. Below it, you can change the color, opacity, thickness, and type. You can also add a point to easily display the value of a variable in a specific category. 


Image: Formatting the series or categories


Image: Radar chart with modified series and legends

Switching labels and categories

If you want to put the entries in the first column as the categories and the entries in the first row as labels, just tick on the Switch rows/columns on the Setup tab in our Chart editor.

 

Image: Switch rows and column, ticked


Image: Radar chart after switching employees and attributes


Sample Sheet

For your practice, you can try this sample sheet.



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