Chart & Visualization Issues

How to Enable Vertical Error Bars in Excel for Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to display vertical error bars on a chart in Excel for Mac but cannot find the option.

Product: Excel for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Editing an existing chart to represent statistical variability or data errors.
Observed behavior: The Vertical Error Bar option is missing or unavailable in the chart editing menu, specifically noted in version 16.77.

Before you start

Verify that your selected chart type supports error bars, as they cannot be added to Pie, Doughnut, or Radar charts. Line, Scatter, and Bar charts are recommended for this feature.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Error Bars via the Chart Design Tab

This is the standard procedure to add vertical error bars to compatible charts using the built-in Chart Elements menu.

Select your chart

Click anywhere on the existing chart to activate the Chart Tools. You will see the Chart Design and Format tabs appear on the ribbon.

Open Add Chart Element

Navigate to the Chart Design tab. On the far left side of the ribbon, click the Add Chart Element drop-down button.

Insert Error Bars

Hover your cursor over the Error Bars option in the list. Choose the desired vertical error bar format, such as Standard Error, Percentage, or Standard Deviation.

Selecting specific data series: If your chart has multiple data series, Excel will prompt you to select which specific series you want to apply the vertical error bars to.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Excel for Mac

Use this method if the error bar options are unexpectedly missing, which can occur due to bugs in specific versions like 16.77.

WPS Spreadsheet Chart Tools

Easily Add Error Bars to Charts with WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet offers a highly intuitive chart editing interface, allowing you to add and format vertical error bars without worrying about missing menus or version bugs.

1. Insert your chart: Highlight your data, go to the Insert tab, and select a compatible chart type like Scatter or Column.
2. Access chart elements: Click on the inserted chart to reveal the quick action buttons on the right side of the chart area.
3. Check Error Bars: Click the Chart Elements (plus icon) button, and check the box for Error Bars. Click the arrow next to it to customize the vertical values.

Add standard error, percentage, or custom error bars with just two clicks.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats and existing chart layouts.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on Mac, Windows, and Linux.Free access to comprehensive data visualization and spreadsheet tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Error Bars option grayed out in Excel?

The Error Bars option is disabled if the active chart type does not support data variability representation. For example, Pie charts and 3D charts do not support error bars. Switch to a 2D Bar, Line, or Scatter chart to enable them.

How do I add custom values to vertical error bars?

After enabling error bars, double-click the vertical error bar on your chart to open the Format Error Bars pane. Under Error Amount, select 'Custom' and click 'Specify Value' to manually input or select the cell ranges containing your error values.

Can I remove horizontal error bars while keeping vertical ones?

Yes. In Scatter charts, Excel adds both horizontal and vertical error bars by default. To remove the horizontal ones, simply click directly on a horizontal error bar in the chart to select it, and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Does WPS Office display Excel charts with error bars correctly?

Yes, WPS Office has native compatibility with Excel files. Charts that include vertical error bars created in Excel will display perfectly in WPS Spreadsheet, and you can edit their properties without losing any formatting.

Excel & Data Problems